The opioid crisis has driven many to explore kratom as a tool for relief and recovery. People use the plant to manage withdrawal, reduce cravings, and regain control without turning to more pharmaceuticals. This article investigates how kratom compares to opioids, shares real-world stories and studies, and explains why kratom lab testing matters for safety and success.

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How Kratom Compares to Opioids

Kratom is not an opioid, but its alkaloids (active ingredients) share many similarities with the infamous painkiller. Kratom’s alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, partially activate the brain’s opioid receptors, mimicking prescription drugs like morphine or oxycodone. 

Specifically, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) activate the μ-opioid receptor (MOR), which affects serotonin and dopamine signaling.

Opioid drugs like fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone also target the μ-opioid receptor. As a result, kratom produces sedation, pleasure, and pain relief, which intensifies at increased doses.

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Dose-dependent effects

People who take kratom report a range of dose-dependent effects that mimic opioids. 

• Low doses (1-5 grams of kratom) create upper, stimulant-like kratom effects, similar to coffee. People often feel more alert and have greater energy. 
• Medium to large doses (5-15 grams of kratom) create sedative kratom effects, similar to opioids. People say it reduces pain and helps them feel calm and less anxious.
• Very large doses (greater than 15 grams) are more likely to produce intense sedative and opioid-like effects, which are more likely to cause abuse potential. 

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Does kratom get you high like opioids?

Kratom can get people high, similar to opioids. However, whole-plant kratom products and mitragynine extracts are generally milder than opioids. Mitragynine makes up as much as 66% of kratom’s total alkaloid profile and is roughly one-quarter the potency of morphine.

Kratom’s other opioid-like compound, 7-OH, makes up only about 1% of the plant’s alkaloids. However, it is much more potent than mitragynine because it forms when the leaves dry and the body metabolizes mitragynine. 7-OH is about 10 to 13 times stronger than morphine, so products that contain higher ratios of this compound will likely result in more intense mind-altering effects even at lower doses. 

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Adverse effects and withdrawal symptoms

Kratom is generally safer than classic opioids in terms of addictive potential, adverse effects, and withdrawal symptoms. 

Commonly prescribed opioids, such as hydrocodone, methadone, meperidine, oxycodone, and fentanyl, trigger powerful reward centers in the brain, causing them to fall under the DEA’s Category II level of addictive drugs. They often demonstrate adverse effects, such as:

• Constipation
• Respiratory depression
• Physical dependence
• Addiction

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Opioid withdrawal symptoms are severe and can include: 

• Increased blood pressure and heart rate
• Pronounced diarrhea
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Dysphoria (discomfort, distress, or unease)

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The severity of effects contributes to the high rate of relapse in people who have developed a dependence on opioids. On the other hand, data shows that kratom, in the form of whole-plant extracts, displays milder withdrawal symptoms, making kratom a potential candidate to manage opioid withdrawal. 

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Kratom for Opioid Withdrawal: What People Say

Many anecdotal reports and case studies support kratom’s ability to help transition people off prescription opioids. Up to 15 million Americans use kratom to relieve pain and manage dependence, and many say that it correlates with lower opioid frequency and quitting these addictive drugs. 

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• An analysis of 500 YouTube videos showed that most people who used kratom (83.4%) self-treated their opioid dependence or withdrawal. Of those, the majority (58%) had positive outcomes. 

• CNN Health reported on thousands of posts about kratom on online forums where people testify about how kratom “saved their life” and helped them overcome addictions to painkillers like Oxy, Hydro, and Adderall. 

• An anonymous online survey with over 2,800 responses through the American Kratom Association and associated social media sites revealed an overwhelming majority (90%) had positive experiences using kratom in place of opioids to relieve pain, reduce opioid use, and relieve withdrawal. Only 13% reported adverse reactions, which were mostly mild and self-managed. 

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PAWS and opioid tapering with kratom

Anyone attempting to quit addictive opioid drugs will often experience a second phase of withdrawal symptoms, known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), after their initial withdrawal struggles. PAWS occurs most commonly and intensely among individuals with alcohol and opioid addiction. 

The best approach to minimize PAWS is a slow, extended, incremental taper from the addictive substance. Opioid tapering with kratom can boost success rates with long-term recovery by managing cravings during PAWS, shifting use toward a drug with lower abuse potential and more manageable withdrawal symptoms. 

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Kratom for Opioid Withdrawal: What the Research Says

Human trials with kratom are limited, yet research is promising that kratom can be a successful alternative to opioids to alleviate chronic pain or help symptoms of opioid withdrawal. 

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Kratom tea for opioid dependence

A 2020 controlled study by researchers at the University of Florida showed kratom could be a prime treatment option for opioid dependence. The UF scientists gave morphine-dependent mice lyophilized kratom tea (LKT) in varying doses and found: 

• Kratom delivered significant pain-relieving benefits and reduced opioid withdrawal symptoms. 
• Also, it did not show the side effects associated with the current medications.

According to study professor Chris McGurdy, kratom displays significant adrenergic (stimulant), serotonergic (mood-enhancing), analgesic (pain-relieving), and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) activity. Combining those qualities into one product explains why kratom can “improve medication adherence and completion of detoxification.”

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Limitations in kratom science

Kratom research is positive, yet mitragynine and 7-OH concentrations in humans are poorly defined, and scientists have yet to establish toxic or lethal ranges. 

Most studies focus on isolated alkaloids or commercial products rather than traditional preparations. But in Southeast Asia, people consume kratom by boiling fresh leaves into tea—a method that produces a broader alkaloid profile. Studying this traditional use could help researchers understand kratom’s full therapeutic potential and guide safer, more effective applications in the West.

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Kratom Risks

Kratom effects on brain receptors and similarities with opioid drugs do come with risks for dependence. There is concern that people who use kratom, especially “non-natural” commercial products, may get cravings for it and require the same medicines used to treat opioid use disorder.

Side effects and drug interactions

Kratom, based on dosage and frequency of use, can cause side effects associated with classic painkillers, such as:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Itching
• Sweating
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Increased urination
• Loss of appetite
• Seizures
• Hallucinations

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Why Kratom Lab Testing Matters

Lab testing is critical for anyone marketing or ingesting kratom because it ensures the product is safe, consistent, and effective. Without testing, there’s no way to verify what’s in the powder, capsule, or extract.

First, potency testing measures the levels of active alkaloids like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, whose concentration can vary wildly across products. Knowing the potency helps people dose responsibly and avoid unwanted side effects.

Second, lab tests can catch dangerous contaminants. Poor processing and packaging may introduce heavy metals, mold, or harmful bacteria that put people at risk.

Finally, testing helps detect synthetic adulterants or manipulated extracts designed to boost effects. These additions can increase the risk of dependency or toxicity, especially when people think they’re taking a natural plant product.

In short, testing turns guesswork into informed decision-making and helps protect the health of people turning to kratom for support.

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How ACS Laboratory supports kratom safety

ACS Laboratory’s Full Kratom Testing Panel assesses the potency profile of the plant’s eight principal alkaloids, including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Its panel ensures brands and consumers fully understand their product’s effects and therapeutic profile. 

Comprehensive kratom lab testing at ACS also screens for harmful compounds, including:

• Heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, and manganese
• Pesticides
• Residual solvents used when making kratom extracts
• Bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella
• Other microbes, including fungi and yeast

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The Bottom Line

Kratom shows promising anecdotal and preliminary research value as a natural aid for opioid withdrawal and tapering. Kratom has significant therapeutic potential, but it is not a regulated medicine, and people looking to address opioid use with kratom should speak to their doctor to understand safety, dose-dependent effects, and potential drug interactions. 

Ensure your kratom products are safe, effective, and trusted. Request a complimentary lab testing consultation with ACS Laboratory by filling out this form.