⚠ Regulatory caution
📰Read the full Kratom evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ DANGEROUS — see overview [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Kratom is a partial mu-opioid agonist — NOT a benign herb. >90 FDA-linked deaths (mostly polysubstance). Genuine addiction + opioid withdrawal syndrome. DEA attempted Schedule I. The harm-reduction argument (safer than fentanyl) has merit but doesn't make it 'safe.' Unregulated products have variable alkaloid content + contamination (Salmonella outbreak 2018). Patients using kratom for opioid withdrawal need addiction medicine support, not self-treatment [1].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
AVOID — opioid activity; withdrawal syndrome [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
ABSOLUTELY NOT [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: DO NOT USE [1].
💊 With food: N/A [1].
🚫 Avoid: COMPLETELY [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['See overview', 'restricted/banned', 'See overview [1].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
DANGER ▼
Kratom is a partial mu-opioid agonist — NOT a benign herb. >90 FDA-linked deaths (mostly polysubstance). Genuine addiction + opioid withdrawal syndrome. DEA attempted Schedule I. The harm-reduction argument (safer than fentanyl) has merit but doesn't make it 'safe.' Unregulated products have variable alkaloid content + contamination (Salmonella outbreak 2018). Patients using kratom for opioid withdrawal need addiction medicine support, not self-treatment [1].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
See overview [1]. HIGH
Moderate
See overview [1]. MODERATE
Insufficient
See overview [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Absolute contraindications
✕ Concurrent opioids, benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants — additive respiratory depression and death
✕ Pregnancy — neonatal withdrawal reported
Relative
⚠ Dependence, withdrawal and hepatotoxicity
⚠ Liver disease
⚠ Many drug interactions (CYP2D6/CYP3A4 inhibition)
⚠ Cardiovascular disease (QT effects reported)
🚩 Red flags
● DANGEROUS — see overview [1]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
See overview Lethal/major
Action: DO NOT USE [1].
7 US supplement products
1
on-market products containing Kratom (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Kratom (1)
Click a brand to see its Kratom products.
8 Frequently paired with
9 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Kratom — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jul 12]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/kratom/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Kratom — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/kratom/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: January 2027
References: 1 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Kratom — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/kratom/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG