Kratom!

[julienl4]

I would like to share that Kratom helps me immensely. This post is long with my backstory, so please jump down to ** if you only want to read about my experience with Kratom

In 1993 I was in college when I had a severe head injury. Though I had a mild version of OCD from age 13 onwards, after this incident it increased every year until it became intolerable. I I tried a long series of medicines, many of them awful and was in a state hardly able to care for myself much less care for others or a business. I finally saw a psychiatrist who prescribed clomipramine which helped perhaps 5%, a welcome relief. I discovered cigarettes helped immensely. I continued trialing medicines until I found Luvox then Celexa which helped tremendously. Later I was on Cymbalta and that was the best medicine for OCD though it fatigued me to a point that was untenable, so I switched to Venlafaxine which is inferior however I was able to function out from the imposing weight of overwhelming fatigue, though still experiencing extreme fatigue.

To combat the fatigue I used an inordinate amount of Canabis, the Sativa 'wake up' kind, though after years it's amplification of OCD was too much. Though I had been opposed to cigarettes in my youth, I continued with much gratitude, and switched to an organic brand.

I have trialed at least 20 different psychiatric medicines over the years. I had intense nightmares since High School and now take Prazosine at night which helps a lot, a night and day difference of nightmares to either neutral or happy dreams. Over the years I experienced many traumas and betrayals that fed into OCD and these nightmares.

I picked up frequent meditation out of necessity and have become quite good at it. Exercise used to help me clear my mind and make me feel good, but I developed chronic fatigue syndrome which is such that any exercise lads to what is called 'post exertional malaisse' an experience very similar to a flu mixed with depression, hence I avoid at all costs including a complete lack of exercise.

Of course I picked up coffee and have tried many supplements and besides the psychiatric medicines and cigarettes, very little has helped. That is until I discovered Kratom. I am so thankful for Kratom, the 'green malay' type in particular that allows me to wake up and focus. Other kinds of Kratom cause fatigue. I noticed how much it helps my OCD, as well if not better than psychiatric medicines, or at least as an excellent compliment to them. This is why I'm sharing this post, that though it is controversial and there are moves to ban it, as it is banned in certain countries, it is extremely helpful. A caveat is that while experiencing a pem episode it doesn't work, nothing but sleep and eating Omega fatty foods such as miso broth and eating fish helps. Nice music helps too.

Thanks, J

**

Not sure how to describe it better than it gives me positive energy. A positive vibe that allows me to push through and do stuff. The obsessive compulsive is still there, but it helps me to ignore it while I do things, sort of like an annoying radio playing but not so strong that I can't work and focus

I'm a complicated case because as mentioned I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so a lot of this post is taken from my posts on cfs forums, where it has helped in that arena as well

I’ve had CFS for 13 years now and would like to share what has helped me. I’ve tried many supplements (I have two giant garbage bags of supplements I’ve tried, thousands of dollars worth) and none of them helped, Kratom is an exception. Kratom has been unbelievable it has made all the differences. It hasn’t cured me of CFS, but it makes things not just bearable but sometimes even somewhat ‘norml

There are many types of Kratom and many brands. Be careful because some make you sleepy (and alleviate pain) while others give you focus and energy. The success I've found is with Bumble Bee brand ‘White Borneo’ (wakes me up, allows me to focus), and Krave brand ‘Green Mallay’. After much experimenting I’ve found green mallay to be the best

It’s been used for hundreds of years and from what I’ve read it doesn’t have negative effects nor does it keep you up at night. I don’t notice any ‘head changes’, so unlike aderal, cocaine, speed etc it isn’t psychoactive or mood altering (except for improving mood and feeling so much better).

When I don’t have it I don’t have withdrawal symptoms, so it’s not physically addictive however without it I’m back to feeling full cfs, so it is addictive in as much as you could say medicine is, in that I definitely rely on it.

My search for addressing CFS continues, but at least I am no longer in a state of complete misery

It can be found at some tobacconists, some with better selection than others, or you could call local tobacconists, or order from paylesskratom (dot) com, for instance I got Bumble Bee White Borneo Powder 250 grams for $40

I spend about $100 a month on it. Sometimes more if I haven’t ordered online and get it from local shops

Note that the red 'Maeng Da' kind helps my fiance with her fibromyalgia and neuropathy pain MORE than vicodin and hydrocodone and allows her to sleep as well. Soooo thankful to have found Kratom. There are suppliers who ship fresh kratom which haven't yet tried

It comes in pill or powder form. Given the choice, definitely go for the pill type as it tastes awful, however if the right kind is available but only in powdered form it is better to have that than none at all. The dosage is 6 pills, it takes about 20 minutes to feel the effects, it’s recommended you start with 4 pills and see how you feel, otherwise a scoop or two and wash it down with coffee

If you find it helpful, you may want to consider getting politically active as there’s moves to ban it

That and STOPPING Cymbalta (SSRI). Don't go off your meds without doctor advice and guidance, but that has been my greatest progress with cfs was stopping Cymbalta (and switching to Venlafaxine

Xifaxan was immensely helpful towards IBS relief, and I can not recommend it enough!

Since I posted this on cfs forums, some users pointed out that it can be addictive as opioid use is often implicated in endocrine dysfunction, resulting in reduced cortisol levels when used in the long-term. Opioids also cause constipation, which could be a problem as many with ME/CFS also have IBS/dysmotility-type symptoms and motility and IBS issues

[Natureloverpeace]

United States agencies and international agencies say not to use kratom products because they may cause serious harm. The Mayo Clinic says they are unsafe and ineffective.

[NotSheldon1994]

This is a dangerous product, and it is addictive, people trying to stop using it OFTEN go through withdrawal. I have no doubt that it helps, but heroin takes away a lot of pain and symptoms as well, but no one recommends that as a treatment.

Evidence on the clinical implications of kratom use is still limited and uncertain, with kratom research constantly evolving. Therefore, further randomized trials are needed. This is a nice way to say this is not a regulated substance, and you honestly don't know what you're getting.

There are no FDA approved kratom drug products or over the counter drugs containing kratom, or its ingredients- mitragynine, or 7-OH-mitragynine that are legally on the market in the U.S. FDA continues to warn consumers not to use kratom because of the risk of serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder (SUD).

[Phoenyx]

I’m very happy you found something that helps you and works for you. People can be very judgmental. Don’t let that bother you and do whatever you feel its best for you. I tried hemp and it helped with my OCD and anxiety tremendously. It is not addictive and I stopped it after a month regardless of the people on this website claiming it will cause psychosis and it is addictive.

[Anonymeow]

Kratom has helped me tremendously as well with both my OCD and chronic back pain (I had a spinal fusion in 2020 at 40 years old). I think it’s a much better alternative that opioids. I’ve used it off and on for 14 years now with no ill effects.

[deValentin]

I never heard of kratom before, so I read that's a tree whose leaves work like an opioid drug. I found an interesting article written by a professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Connecticut "The Kratom Controversy: Nearly 2 Million Americans Are Using a Substance Banned in Multiple States".