Kratom 101: Effects, Interactions & Real Risks (Doctor Explains)
This video explores the neurobiology, history, and dangers of kratom, a plant that can act like coffee at one dose and morphine at another. Presented by Dr Sanil Rege, Consultant Psychiatrist and Educator, the video separates myth from reality, covering kratom’s chemistry, effects, risks, and the latest FDA regulatory actions.
#Kratom #Opioids #Neurobiology #Addiction #Psychiatry #FDA #DrRege
⏱ Chapters
0:00 Introduction – Why kratom matters now
1:26 What is kratom? Cultural origins and modern use
2:22 How kratom affects the brain – alkaloids, receptors, hybrid pharmacology
3:51 Short-term effects and what a “kratom high” feels like
4:05 Side effects, toxicity, and reported fatalities
4:42 Long-term risks – dependence, organ damage, cognitive impact
5:27 Contamination, adulteration, and product variability
6:02 Why the FDA is targeting 7-hydroxymitragynine
Key Learnings
1. Dual pharmacology: stimulant at low doses, opioid-like at higher doses.
2. Mechanisms: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine act as partial agonists at opioid receptors but also hit adrenergic, serotonin, and dopamine systems.
3. Risks: unpredictable metabolism, product adulteration, organ toxicity, dependence, and withdrawal syndromes.
4. Clinical impact: Kratom is used for chronic pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal, but can itself trigger dependence and psychiatric complications.
5. Regulatory update: the FDA (2025) has recommended scheduling kratom’s most potent metabolite, raising urgent questions about legality and access.
6. Future possibilities: despite dangers, kratom is being studied as a model for next-generation opioids that bypass respiratory depression pathways.
Dr Sanil Rege is a Consultant Psychiatrist, Educator, and Founder of The Academy by Psych Scene, where he teaches advanced frameworks in psychiatry and neuroscience not typically covered in training.
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