backyardpharmacist
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2014
- Messages
- 2
Swim and his girlfriend began experimenting with crushed green bali Kratom from a reputable source appx 3-4 weeks ago, averaging around 2-3 teaspoons of the powder mixed with fruit juice taken once daily in the morning. Retrospectively, it was the end of week two when SWIM's girlfriend began to exhibit symptoms of a mild infection/fever (high temperature, abdominal pain, dark urine, cold sweats/chills). In under 2 days her condition rapidly deteriorated, displaying all the classic symptoms associated with a viral infection. This marked her first visit to the ER. Upon arrival, UA analysis showed no signs of kidney or bladder infection(ER doctor decided blood work was not necessary, why this decision was made is still a mystery to me). She was then told that she likely had a virus and it should be no more than 3-4 day for symptoms to subside. Needless to say her symptoms did not subside, but rather progressed into all the classical symptoms associated with hepatitis (yellowing of the eyes and skin, high fever, sharp abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting). Upon arrival at the ER, SWIM asked blood work be done, revealing a reduced white blood cell count and enzymes elevated to six times a normal level) This resulting in a new diagnosis describing what "must be a virus attacking her liver"
causing intrahepatic cholestasis. Acting on what can only be described as a hunch, SWIM decided to mention the recent use of herbal supplements to the ER doctor. The ER doctor immediately asked if Kratom was said herb, as there had recently been several cases where patients experienced similar experiences of mild to serious liver injury. Obviously this was enough to convince SWIM to never think of using kratom again and warn others wanting to try kratom to proceed with extreme caution. In all, this experienced has left SWIM's girlfriend absent from work 2 full weeks, unable to keep food down for 9 of those days, severe insomnia, and worse yet, a liver rot with scar tissue. That said the defining low point in all this was by far waiting next to her bed in the ER and receiving the horrifing news that her liver is failing, but no one had an explanation as to why it was failing..heavy.
Some info:
SWIM and his girlfriend both were clear of all other substances that might cause liver damage, no drugs, not even one advil. In addition to this, SWIM's girlfriend had no pre existing liver conditions or hereditary issues that may have effected the doctors assertion that kratom had likely been the source of toxicity.
While there is no conclusive way to prove that Kratom was the only culprit leading to her near liver failure, it is also impossible to prove that Kratom is in any way "SAFE" for human consumption. This leading me to the obvious question, why is it so many people are making completely subjective and often asinine assertions that Kratom couldn't possibly be causing these numerous instances of liver damage? These posts defending Kratom as a miracle drug are often backed up with infomation pulled directly from a wholesale website, or even worse, posting statements like "it was probably not the kratom, kratom is totally safe, no one has even died from it" and often without a shred of evidence that to support such a statement!?
(to which I must ask, how likely is it that a death caused by acute liver failure due to a "virus" was misdiagnosed, and actually caused by a toxic reaction to the kratom being ingested . certainly something to think about)
That said, I will agree with the herbs proponents and assert that kratom is likely safe for the majority of users as SWIM had no observable ill effects form its use, just the mild withdrawal after cessation. However, just because something is not obviously dangerous to a majority of users, does not mean that it qualifies as a miracle drug. I feel that Kratom should be approached with the highest levels of caution by new users and those who have been using it for moderate durations, as similar cases of liver damage have been linked to doses as small as 2-3g. (anecdotal yes, worth ignoring entirely, NO)
Finally, to those currently plotting a long winded rebuttal in defense of Kratom, often by claiming tylenol or alcohol is the root cause, or by trying to educate the bluelight community in the difference between causal relationships and correlation) Instead, you should first test this logic: "Because this is a forum serving the explicit purpose of harm reduction among users and not protecting endangered herbs from the FDA, shouldn't we take due diligence in protecting others from the potentially CATASTROPHIC reaction some users are experiencing after ingesting Kratom?" or the shorthand being "Is protecting a mild buzz worth someones life"
TL:DR If you are taking the herbal supplement Kratom and experience any symptoms similar to that of hepatitis you should stop using the herb immediately, go to the hospital and get a blood test. Your Liver may be about to fail.
Here is some further reading, anecdotal experiences are easily found by searching google for "kratom" and "liver"together.
http://link.springer.com/article/10....LI=true#page-1
http://w
ww.youblisher.com/p/373689-Borneo-Kratom/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...00483X08003120
http://journals.lww.com/drug-monitor...lism_of.4.aspx
http://link.springer.com/article/10....181-011-0202-2
And in one final note, if you are reading this on a phone in the Lobby at an ER, Don't panic, just be honest with the doctors about what chemicals may be in your system.

Some info:
SWIM and his girlfriend both were clear of all other substances that might cause liver damage, no drugs, not even one advil. In addition to this, SWIM's girlfriend had no pre existing liver conditions or hereditary issues that may have effected the doctors assertion that kratom had likely been the source of toxicity.
While there is no conclusive way to prove that Kratom was the only culprit leading to her near liver failure, it is also impossible to prove that Kratom is in any way "SAFE" for human consumption. This leading me to the obvious question, why is it so many people are making completely subjective and often asinine assertions that Kratom couldn't possibly be causing these numerous instances of liver damage? These posts defending Kratom as a miracle drug are often backed up with infomation pulled directly from a wholesale website, or even worse, posting statements like "it was probably not the kratom, kratom is totally safe, no one has even died from it" and often without a shred of evidence that to support such a statement!?
(to which I must ask, how likely is it that a death caused by acute liver failure due to a "virus" was misdiagnosed, and actually caused by a toxic reaction to the kratom being ingested . certainly something to think about)
That said, I will agree with the herbs proponents and assert that kratom is likely safe for the majority of users as SWIM had no observable ill effects form its use, just the mild withdrawal after cessation. However, just because something is not obviously dangerous to a majority of users, does not mean that it qualifies as a miracle drug. I feel that Kratom should be approached with the highest levels of caution by new users and those who have been using it for moderate durations, as similar cases of liver damage have been linked to doses as small as 2-3g. (anecdotal yes, worth ignoring entirely, NO)
Finally, to those currently plotting a long winded rebuttal in defense of Kratom, often by claiming tylenol or alcohol is the root cause, or by trying to educate the bluelight community in the difference between causal relationships and correlation) Instead, you should first test this logic: "Because this is a forum serving the explicit purpose of harm reduction among users and not protecting endangered herbs from the FDA, shouldn't we take due diligence in protecting others from the potentially CATASTROPHIC reaction some users are experiencing after ingesting Kratom?" or the shorthand being "Is protecting a mild buzz worth someones life"
TL:DR If you are taking the herbal supplement Kratom and experience any symptoms similar to that of hepatitis you should stop using the herb immediately, go to the hospital and get a blood test. Your Liver may be about to fail.
Here is some further reading, anecdotal experiences are easily found by searching google for "kratom" and "liver"together.
http://link.springer.com/article/10....LI=true#page-1
http://w
ww.youblisher.com/p/373689-Borneo-Kratom/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...00483X08003120
http://journals.lww.com/drug-monitor...lism_of.4.aspx
http://link.springer.com/article/10....181-011-0202-2
And in one final note, if you are reading this on a phone in the Lobby at an ER, Don't panic, just be honest with the doctors about what chemicals may be in your system.