Kratom extract caused bizarre toxic neuropathy

Posted by gunterwise @gunterwise, Mar 12 3:24pm

First off, Im well aware I did this to myself but never thinking something you could get at a vape shop could cause this.
Short version here.
Im a 40yo male.
In October 2025 I took a kratom extract once to help myself transition back onto suboxone which did work, however it also caused me to see color patterns and everything shiny like a mild psychedelic and not sleep for 7 days. I experienced burning over my entire body, the skin in my throat and mouth started pealing off, and was rapidly losing the ability to walk and my eyes stopped moving in concert. Taking Klonopin got me back to normal in about a week. That lasted for about 2 1/2 months when one day the klonopin itself started causing my hands and feet to burn. Er prescribed gabapentin which only made it worse. Then they tried aleve which did work, again for about 2 1/2 months until just yesterday it started causing it to happen. When this isnt controlled just eating food or getting upset over something makes my feet and hands burn. I stay up all night and finally fall asleep at maybe 11am but wake up one hour later with heart palpitations and gasping for air. Since October Ive had to use enemas to take a BM or let myself go into suboxone WD(self tapered to 1mg now.) All of the extensive lab work ive had done repeatedly shows everything is normal and im hiv/hep c negative, yet it feels real tissue damage is happening. Im 6'1 usually 165, but am now 130 despite having a larger appetite than I did before this all started. I have out of control eczema all over my face and other spots on my body. My muscles feel atrophied and 2 of the veins the ER put catheters in months ago will actually open back up under the skin and burning fluid seeps under the skin when I have a really bad flare up. The only other anti inflammatory I know of is corticosteroids so I went to the ER last night and they ran more labs which of course were normal and didnt give me anything. Im at a loss of what to do because I have 2 medications I have to take or will experience severe wd and the wd itself makes the symptoms flare. Every neurologist has a 9 month+ waiting list. I had a consultation with the National Neuropathy Center and she thinks the kratom extract triggered some type of autoimmune disorder. Thanks for listening.

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Hello @gunterwise, Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear that you have toxicity from using a Kratom extract. I see you mentioned you are trying to get an appointment with a neurologist but there is a long waiting period. I know it has to be frustrating not being able to get help and guidance of how to manage the toxicity. I did see the following article that may provide some suggestions if you haven't already seen it.
-- Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Detox Treatment:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/kratom/withdrawal
I also saw this information on the toxicity aspect of Kratom that might be helpful.
"Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Kratom ingestion and toxicity require an interprofessional approach. Depending on the severity of presenting symptoms, critical care, nursing, pharmacy, social work, and addiction services may be required. Nursing and pharmacy are essential for the initial resuscitation and delivery of medications. Pharmacists, in particular, need to be knowledgeable about the effects of this substance so they can inform patients and other interprofessional healthcare team members regarding kratom use. Critical care teams and psychiatry involvement is crucial for critically ill patients with possible co-ingestions and those with suicidal intent. Social work and addiction services are necessary for those motivated to control their drug addiction. Overall, kratom use, toxicity, and withdrawal require further research to develop definitive management practices."
-- Kratom: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585120/

REPLY
Profile picture for John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop

Hello @gunterwise, Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear that you have toxicity from using a Kratom extract. I see you mentioned you are trying to get an appointment with a neurologist but there is a long waiting period. I know it has to be frustrating not being able to get help and guidance of how to manage the toxicity. I did see the following article that may provide some suggestions if you haven't already seen it.
-- Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Detox Treatment:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/kratom/withdrawal
I also saw this information on the toxicity aspect of Kratom that might be helpful.
"Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Kratom ingestion and toxicity require an interprofessional approach. Depending on the severity of presenting symptoms, critical care, nursing, pharmacy, social work, and addiction services may be required. Nursing and pharmacy are essential for the initial resuscitation and delivery of medications. Pharmacists, in particular, need to be knowledgeable about the effects of this substance so they can inform patients and other interprofessional healthcare team members regarding kratom use. Critical care teams and psychiatry involvement is crucial for critically ill patients with possible co-ingestions and those with suicidal intent. Social work and addiction services are necessary for those motivated to control their drug addiction. Overall, kratom use, toxicity, and withdrawal require further research to develop definitive management practices."
-- Kratom: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585120/

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@johnbishop
Thanks for the reply. I will definitely check this out. Its just odd that I only took this stuff once and had such a reaction. Im learning the hard way how dangerous these unregulated things can be. Who knows whats really in there too. Some research ive done on all my symptoms mentions long term covid. I did get covid several times but not severely. Im wondering if this stressful event somehow triggered some type of longterm covid.

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