Can You Overdose on Kratom?

Yes.

Between 2020 and 2022, Kratom was listed as a contributing factor in over 4,000 deaths nationwide. Overdose on Kratom is possible, but uncommon, due to high blood concentrations of its primary psychoactive alkaloid, mitragynine. While no baseline has been set, studies generally indicate that at concentrations upwards of 1,000 ng/mL of blood, mitragynine is most often fatal. It is possible to overdose, or die, with lower blood concentrations. For reference, the average-proportioned Kratom tea usually raises blood mitragynine levels to between 100–200 ng/mL.

Kratom overdose presents as acute opioid overdose, since the plant acts on opioid receptors in the brain. At doses high enough to cause acute intoxication, Kratom can cause:

• Unresponsiveness

• Respiratory depression or failure

• Cyanosis (blue-tingeing of lips and extremities due to lack of oxygen)

• Constricted pupils.

In these conditions, anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical care. Naloxone (Narcan) administration can reverse Kratom overdose in some situations.

While Kratom can be fatal on its own, the plant is most often fatal when used in combination with other drugs. In these situations, Kratom can exacerbate the effects of other substances – particularly of opioids – and cause overdose and death.