You might be familiar with kratom, a tropical evergreen plant native to Southeast Asia. It’s quite popular for its relaxing and mood-enhancing effects. Many of you might have thought of mixing it with alcohol to experience more stimulating effects of the two combined.
Although both alcohol and kratom are legal federally in the United States (except for the 6 states where kratom is banned) they won’t be any dangerous to mix, right?
But here’s the thing, there’s no solid testing to back this up. So, it’s not advisable to mix kratom powder and alcohol. Many users report mixing the two without facing any problems but some reports suggest otherwise.
Almost all these reports present overdosage and deaths related to using kratom alongside other substances such as alcohol.
Let’s learn more about this combo and how it affects your health.
Understanding Kratom & Alcohol
Both alcohol and kratom are psychoactive substances. As you might already know alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant while kratom is considered to be a natural addictive substance.
Kratom is known for its natural relaxing properties on the other hand alcohol is known for its sedative effects. In order to understand why you must not combine these two substances, you first need to know what makes them different from each other.
| Kratom | Alcohol | |
| Primary Effects | Stimulant (in low doses), sedative (in high doses) | CNS depressant |
| Mechanism of Action | Opioid receptor agonist | GABAergic |
| Common Uses | Relaxation, mood enhancement, energy boost | Seduction |
| Overdose Risk | Low (with small dosage) | Moderate |
| Potential Side-effects | Nausea, dizziness, dependence | liver damage (long-term), dependence |
| Dependency | Moderate | High |
| Legal Status | Varies by region | Legal in most countries, with age and consumption restrictions |
Mixing Kratom & Alcohol; Is It Safe?
Mixing kratom and alcohol is not advised as both substances are central nervous system depressants and are sedative. The two combined can seriously affect your health.
Alcohol alone works by impacting your brain receptors, slowing your senses, movements, and overall body functioning.
The effects of kratom depend on its dosage. The low dosage, under 5g can produce stimulating and short-term effects. While larger dosage, above 10-20g can lead to sedation.
Both combined can produce intense effects by extremely dehydrating your body. So, this combination is not highly recommended.
Mixing Kratom And Alcohol: Home Vs. Bar
If you still decide to mix kratom and alcohol, you need to be very considerate of the dose you take and don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Let’s see if you can try this combo at home or if you need to go to a bar and how these settings play an important role.
Home Environment
As compared to the public setting, if you try kratom with alcohol at home, you’ll be in control of the environment. In the comfort of your home, you can accurately measure the dose of kratom and alcohol which is an important factor to consider.
However, there are potential downsides. Consuming these substances alone, without supervision, can be risky in case of a severe reaction. There’s the possibility that immediate help might not be available in case of an emergency.
Public Setting
In a bar or public setting, things can be quite different. The doses of both substances can be very difficult to control. One drink from another and kratom, if available, might not be dosed with precision.
Social influences can also play a significant role; peer pressure or the atmosphere of a bar might lead to increased consumption or mixing of substances that you wouldn’t typically combine at home.
The positive side of being in a public place is the availability of immediate help.
Both the settings have risks involved and none of them are advised but in case you want to choose one, you must fully understand what might be suitable for you.
The Side Effects Of Mixing Kratom With Alcohol
The lower dosage of kratom is known to produce some good effects that might include
- Cheerfulness
- Relaxation
- Enhanced focus & energy
- Good mood
- Good sleep
Kratom, if taken in large amounts or used for a long time, is known to produce some bad that might include
- Neausia
- Dizziness
- Sedation
- Irritation
- Increased urination
- Constipation
Other than these, there are reports related to kratom being used with other substances, and the following are the effects.
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Agitation
- CNS depression
The Potential Risks You Need To Know
Mixing kratom and alcohol might put you at a high risk of overdosage. The strong effects of the two substances combined can it hard for your body to handle. Due to overdosage, you might feel irregular breathing that might ultimately lead to cardiac arrest, coma, respiratory failure, or kidney failure.
Addiction and total dependency might also be one of the main risks of mixing alcohol and kratom. Both these substances are highly addictive in nature and you can easily become dependent on them.
This combination may highly affect your body and brain functioning. Your body might start relying on this combo making it difficult to stop taking it.
Safety First
If you want to take kratom with alcohol, the following are some safety measures that you must follow.
- Staying hydrated is the most important thing you need to keep in mind. As explained earlier, both alcohol and kratom can cause dehydration and increase urination, so to avoid that, you must drink plenty of water.
- Get your kratom and alcohol from a reliable source that shouldn’t be contaminated. Using tested products can save you from facing adverse effects.
- Be careful about the dosage. It’s not advisable to mix the two but if you do, take a small amount of both to avoid serious side effects.
Bottom Line
There’s still a lot of research required to deeply understand how kratom works. There is no in-depth research available on the subject. So, to avoid trouble, it is not recommended to use kratom and alcohol together. Both being highly stimulating can lead to serious risks. Don’t forget to follow the safety measures if you can’t resist combining the two. Remember, safety always comes first.
FAQs
How Long After Taking Kratom Can You Drink Alcohol?
Wait at least 5 to 6 hours to be on the safe side, after taking kratom before drinking alcohol, but avoiding mixing the two altogether is recommended for safety.
Are Kratom And Alcohol Addictive?
Addiction and total dependency might also be one of the main risks of mixing alcohol and kratom. Both these substances are highly addictive in nature and you can easily become dependent on them.
Why Do People Mix Alcohol With Kratom?
People might mix alcohol with kratom to enhance the effects of both substances, seeking stronger relaxation, and euphoria. However, this combination can be risky and is not recommended due to potential adverse effects.
Why Is Mixing Kratom And Alcohol Dangerous?
Mixing kratom and alcohol is not advised as both substances are central nervous system depressants and are sedative. The two combined can seriously affect your health.