Health Tips: FDA issues warning against Kratom, a plant-based substance with deadly side effects

Kratom has already been linked to 36 deaths, the FDA warned in a public health advisory

Kratom, an herbal supplement touted as a "safe" alternative to opioids, comes with some potentially deadly consequences.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just released a public health advisory on the plant-based substance, warning that the drug has already been linked to 36 deaths and "could expand the opioid epidemic."

The advisory, released yesterday by the FDA's Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, M.D., cautions that kratom comes with a slew of safety risks—many actually mirroring the highly dangerous drug it's supposed to safely to replace.

"Proponents argue that it's a safe substance largely because it's a plant-based product," Gottlieb said in the statement. "Evidence shows that kratom has similar effects to narcotics like opioids, and carries similar risks of abuse, addiction and in some cases, death." (Take, for example, this case study. It looked at an otherwise healthy 17-year-old's death, which was ultimately attributed to "possible Kratom toxicity." The study said he displayed symptoms "consistent with, though not diagnostic of, opiate use.")

Kratom, a plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia, has gained popularity in the United States in recent years as an alternative to opioids, with marketers propping up its euphoric effects and healing properties. According to Gottlieb's statement, people are using it to treat ailments like pain, anxiety, and depression—"serious medical conditions that require proper diagnosis and oversight from a licensed health care provider."

Marketers also boast that kratom can be used to treat opioid use disorder, with proponents claiming the plant-based substance can help treat opioid withdrawal symptoms, according to the advisory. Gottlieb said, there is "no reliable evidence" that supports kratom as a safe or effective treatment for opioid use disorder.

There have even been reports of kratom being laced with opioids such as hydrocodone, making the drug even more deadly. (Opioid overdose is currently the biggest killer of men under the age of 50.) The drug is also linked with other serious side effects including seizures, liver damage, and withdrawal symptoms.

The rise of kratom's popularity points to a dangerous trend of believing something is "safe" just because it is plant-based. Gottlieb sayid the FDA is actively researching any potential medicinal uses of kratom, but as of now, the research doesn't point to a single health benefit. All that is known now is a list of serious side effects—many scary-similar to opioids—and the proven risk of death. The FDA advises that until further research is done, kratom should not be used.

SOURCE - PULSE.NG posted by Campus94