Understanding What are the long-term side effects of kratom?

October 8, 2025 •

2 min read

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers not to use kratom due to the risk of serious adverse events, including substance use disorder, seizures, and liver toxicity. Understanding what are the long-term side effects of kratom is crucial for anyone considering or already using this unregulated substance.

Quick Summary

Long-term kratom use is linked to significant health consequences, including liver and kidney damage, neurological problems like psychosis and cognitive impairment, and physical dependence leading to withdrawal symptoms. Unregulated products pose additional risks from inconsistent potency and contaminants.

Key Points

Liver and Kidney Toxicity: Chronic kratom use can lead to serious liver damage (hepatotoxicity) and kidney problems, including potential failure and electrolyte imbalances like hyperkalemia.
Addiction and Opioid-Like Withdrawal: Prolonged use can result in physical dependence, with withdrawal symptoms that mimic opioid withdrawal, such as severe anxiety, muscle aches, and mood swings.
Significant Neurological and Psychological Effects: Long-term users are at risk for cognitive impairments, chronic insomnia, psychosis, tremors, and anxiety.
Serious Physical Deterioration: Chronic use is associated with anorexia, significant weight loss, chronic constipation, and skin hyperpigmentation.
Unregulated Market Risks: The lack of FDA regulation means kratom products have inconsistent potency and a high risk of contamination with heavy metals, bacteria, or other dangerous adulterants.
Compounded Risk with Polysubstance Use: Combining kratom with other drugs, including alcohol or prescription medications, significantly increases the risk of severe adverse effects, overdose, and death.

A Closer Look at Chronic Kratom Use

Kratom, derived from the leaves of the tropical tree Mitragyna speciosa, is often marketed as a natural alternative to manage pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, extensive long-term use is associated with a range of potentially severe adverse effects on nearly every system in the body. The lack of FDA regulation means that products sold online and in stores can vary drastically in potency and purity, adding to the unpredictable and serious risks for chronic users.

Chronic Physical Symptoms

While short-term side effects might include nausea and dizziness, long-term use can lead to more serious and persistent physical symptoms. These include significant weight loss, severe constipation, skin hyperpigmentation, hair loss, and increased urination.

Organ Toxicity: Liver and Kidney Damage

Long-term kratom use can damage the liver and kidneys, organs vital for filtering toxins. Cases of acute liver injury (hepatotoxicity) have been reported, often appearing within weeks of regular use, with symptoms like jaundice, fatigue, and dark urine. The liver metabolizes kratom's alkaloids, and chronic high doses can cause inflammation and injury. Kidney damage (nephrotoxicity) is also a risk, particularly with high doses and if the liver is already compromised. Elevated blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia) have been observed in long-term users, possibly due to kratom affecting potassium regulation in the kidneys.

Neurological and Mental Health Impacts

Kratom's interaction with brain opioid receptors can cause lasting neurological and mental health issues. These include psychosis, cognitive impairments (affecting learning and memory), persistent anxiety, irritability, and depression. In some cases, tremors and seizures have also been associated with chronic use.

The Vicious Cycle of Addiction and Withdrawal

Long-term kratom use carries a significant risk of dependence and addiction due to its opioid-like effects. Tolerance can develop, requiring higher doses. For more information on kratom withdrawal symptoms, cardiovascular risks, and a comparison of short and long-term effects, you can visit {Link: greenhousetreatment.com https://greenhousetreatment.com/kratom/long-term-risks/}.

The Danger of Unregulated Products

Kratom is not FDA-regulated, meaning products lack consistent quality and concentration, increasing risks. These risks include variable potency, contamination with heavy metals or bacteria like Salmonella, and adulteration with dangerous synthetic additives or opioids.

Conclusion

Despite perceived benefits, chronic kratom use carries significant risks, including dependence, addiction, liver and kidney damage, neurological and psychiatric problems, and physical deterioration. The unregulated nature of kratom products further increases risks due to inconsistent potency and potential contamination. The serious and potentially irreversible long-term side effects warrant extreme caution. For more information on substance use disorders, consult the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, chronic kratom use can lead to acute liver injury, also known as hepatotoxicity. Symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the skin), fatigue, and dark urine, often appearing within weeks of regular use.

Yes, because kratom's active compounds interact with opioid receptors in the brain, long-term users can experience withdrawal symptoms similar to those of opioid withdrawal. These can include anxiety, muscle aches, and insomnia.

Long-term kratom use can cause various mental health issues, including chronic anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, and in severe cases, psychosis, which can involve delusions and hallucinations.

Yes, long-term kratom use, particularly at high doses, can harm the kidneys. This risk is higher if liver damage has already occurred, placing extra strain on the kidneys. Case reports have also linked kratom use to hyperkalemia (high blood potassium levels).

Yes, despite claims that it is harmless, long-term and high-dose kratom use can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Users can develop a tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect and experiencing cravings.

Neurological issues linked to chronic kratom use include cognitive impairments such as problems with learning and memory, tremors, and seizures, especially with higher doses.

Combining kratom with other drugs, including alcohol or prescription medications, is particularly dangerous. This polysubstance use can lead to severe adverse effects like liver problems, increased cardiotoxicity, and even death.

Yes, the unregulated nature of kratom products means their potency is inconsistent and they may be contaminated with heavy metals, bacteria like Salmonella, or other dangerous substances, increasing the risk of serious health complications.