I have bought some Kratom from the Netherlands. I am very nervous about taking it - I have no idea whether it is legal in the UK or not as I have seen conflicting info. my order arrived today in a clear plastic envelope marked only "RVB" . The Invoice states "this product is not meant for human consumption" I cannot take this as I have no idea what it is or whether it is indeed Kratom. I used de kratomshop.nl Any advice would be much appreciated.
thank you!
It’s not legal in the U.K., was banned as a legal high last year. It’s good for RLS. I take about quarter of a teaspoon during the night when an attack starts. Often it allows me to get back to sleep for some time unless the attack’s very bad. It’s very mildly psychedelic, or very relaxing, depending on the strain. You just wash it down with water, or something stronger tasting as it’s a bit unpleasant. I think ‘not for human consumption’ is for legal not medical purposes. Hope it works for you.
Best luck
Lenilatt, I can’t tell you if it’s legal in the UK. I’m based in Tokyo. RVB indicates the “red vein borneo” strain of Kratom. I’ve ordered it from several different vendors and it generally always says “not for human consumption” on the package.
I’ve been taking it exclusively (no other pharmaceuticals) for the past 4 years. It’s been a lifesaver.
There are a number of other people using it with lots of great advice. All the best wishes!
It IS illegal, even in the US, half the states have it illegal and next year, it will illegal in ALL states. having said that, SOME people say it works for them, and it is your choice, but strongly recommend you do your research thoroughly. There are just as many groups for kratom withdrawal as there are that are pro kratom, So, I would look at both sides of it, which I have already.
I have used it very successfully. As far as I am aware it is legal to possess but not to buy or import. The do not consume is legal protection for the company selling it.
As nightdancer says do your research - google has all the info you could ever need. It can be problematic as can many other drugs but it is interesting to note that although some people develop dependence/addiction, (I've not enough reading done to say which it is) there are many who use Kratom to withdraw and stop Heroin and other strong opioids.
As said I have used it, as have a number of others on here and after using it for several months I had no difficulty stopping when I got prescribed drugs that worked. I have a few lbs of it for changing over on meds and have no compulsion to use it outside of treating RLS. I would hazard an educated guess that many more people suffer adverse effects from the prescribed drugs than Kratom I say it anecdotally and would imagine with enough research there would be empirical data also.
Take a look through this thread for more info and further places to look for info:
healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/po...
All the best...and don't forget the legality of drugs in the UK has less to do with safety and more to do with politics - that is not opinion that is fact and you only have to see the work of Prof David Nutt and others in the drug field as evidence.
Hi Raffs, which strain(s) do you use, and do you have to stop/rotate to maintain efficacy? Thankyou
I could never see any difference in the strains and although tried a variety I settled with red Borneo as it was meant to be best for pain.
I used it once a day mostly, twice if I needed a really good night. Normally about 7.5g at 6pm would keep me well controlled over the worst period and although things got worse again after midnight they wouldn't be as bad. There was an initial increase in dose until I found the right spot but as far as I remember I didn't increase it afterwards.
I am quite cautions in drug use as I know tolerance and dependence can lead to addiction so work on the grounds of I use as little as I can manage, although nowadays I do seek more relief than I used to but I am unwell for other reasons and haven't the energy to deal with RLS any more.
I used it for several months, I think, and stopped when I got prescription drugs that worked, although they don't work as well as Kratom. I've had to use it on several occasions so I could maintain a more normal family life but I have other means at my disposal so can't give a decent answer on the rotation element.
I take Percocet for pain due to a bad accident ,and if I stop or don't have enough in my system I will have RLS and also in my arms as well! I've been looking into Kratom as a way of getting off the opioids and just put less man made chemicals in my body. And in the end with all the research I've done the good out ways the bad in favor of Kratom. The pill form seams to be the way to go because of the taste, but it is extremely important to have it as fresh as possible to keep its potency and research to see what strain is best for you ,as there are many. Good luck in your journey back to health God bless .
That is the website I use and I have used their kratom for over a year. I have never had a problem with their kratom but it does say 'not for consumption' or something similar on my orders also. I ignore that. I do not know where I would be without it. I think it says not for human consumption because it can also be used as a clothes dye and it may even be legal in the UK if used for that purpose.
RVB stands for red vein borneo which is probably what you ordered and is the most widely used for rls. When Nightdancer says that SOME people report that it works for rls, I would have to say that I don't recall seeing many report that they have tried it and it hasn't worked - it is exceptionally effective for rls - there are many who won't try it because it is illegal but that is different from trying it and finding it ineffective.
As regards how to take it, it is not water soluble so you need to dilute it in something acidic such as orange or - even better - grapefruit juice. To start I would suggest a very small dose of something like quarter to half a teaspoon (to give you an idea, I need over 1tsp but I am robustly insensitive to all drugs from kratom to anti-biotics - I always need a large dose). Only use a small amount of juice as it is seriously unpalatable and you will struggle to get it down. It takes a little while to dissolve and needs to be agitated with a spoon. Once consumed, it takes about 20 minutes to take effect and then lasts for three to four hours. You might find that a quarter spoon is slightly too low but better to start conservatively. It usually induces a mild euphoria. I have never experienced any hangover afterwards. The worst side effect for me is that it induces alertness so I have difficulty sleeping with it. But the feeling of the awful creepy-crawly leg jerkies just fading away is such a relief.
Regarding discontinuing kratom I would add that I researched widely before I took it - like you I was absolutely freaked out when I first started taking it - I only took it because I was desperate. I noted that in respect of the people who post as having had horrendous time coming off kratom, their dose has been massively greater than anything you would need to take to cover rls symptoms. These are people who have been using the drug recreationally and are 'chasing the high' with greater and greater doses. While obviously you must make up your own mind, do be careful to check what dose they are talking about when they record what a difficult time they are having coming off kratom. I challenge anyone to produce a credible post from a person who had trouble coming off kratom when they were taking no more than two or three teaspoons a day.
I come off kratom regularly as I am trying to alternate it with a dopamine agonist and I can say that after six to eight weeks of taking it I only experience at worst mild flu-like symptoms for one or two days - which may actually have been a flu - usually I have absolutely no withdrawal symptoms at all. I have also taken it for longer periods - a few months at a time - and not had problems stopping it.
To put it in context, I was prescribed oxycontin for my rls (this is a wholly legal drug and often used for rls) and found it MUCH more difficult to discontinue than kratom - and also worse for nocturnal alertness.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss it further. I totally understand how frightening it is starting this drug as I was in the exact same situation myself.
hi involuntarydancer. Don't know much about kratom and would like to know more. What can you tell me. I am trying to stay off meds (had an allergic reaction to pramipexole early on that sent me to the ER. Is it possible to order it from the US? Sometimes I would just like an rls-free night to. sleep and get my coping ability back. Any info appreciated. Thanks irina1975
I got some from netherlands, dekratomshop.nl. Their service was pretty good - the kratom seems ok although I have only taken it twice, as i take a sleeping pill twice a week and you are only supposed to use Krato twice a week too so I have to leave gaps and not taking anything at least twice a week. seems ok, as I don't get desperate on the bad nights, knowing the next night I will be able to sleep, but it's early days yet, I've only been doing this for two weeks and still think I am taking too many drugs. Time will tell.
Thank you, Lenilat Will follow up. Have just checked out info online and found what looks like a reputable website called sagebotanicals.org Also is legal here in the US except in some states. Will check out my state-Georgia-and go from there. I did read about taking 2xwk which seems fine. My goal is to get occasional rls relief to have the energy to 'regroup' my coping ability.
Hi Irina,
Kratom is by no means a silver bullet but I have to say I would be lost without it. Although it is not obtainable by prescription, I actually regard it as a medication for rls. For me, the issue of whether an item requires a prescription and a pharmacist, seems a rather arbitrary means of distinction in respect of a condition as tricky to treat as rls (although obviously quality control issues are more reliable with otc and pharmaceutical products).
One of the really great things about kratom is that it can be used 'as and when'. It is almost the only treatment I know that works in that way and consequently it is really useful for example when changing from one set of permanent meds to another.
I don't respect the two day a week dictat. When I am using kratom (for my rls), I take it every day. I stop using it completely every so often for a few weeks. I have never experienced any serious withdrawals coming off kratom - I can feel slightly under the weather for a couple of days but usually I have no withdrawal symptoms.
Unfortunately, it only works for about 3 or 4 hours so if using it at night you have to wake up and take a second dose through the night. Also I have started to find it has an alerting effect so that I find it hard to get to sleep when I take it. This is useful when I am exhausted during the day and I have used kratom to keep myself awake and alert when very tired after a bad night. It is more difficult to manage at night time as I can lie awake for large tracts of the night - albeit symptom free and slightly mellow. I understand that at higher doses it has a more soporific take but I struggle to take that much of it.
In the US I know that a number of rls sufferers order their kratom from socalherbalremedies.com.
Hi involuntarydancer. MANY thanks. This may be a lifesaver for me too. I think one of the hardest things we have to deal with is that the constant pain and lack of sleep completely takes away our coping ability for everything. And we have to do what we can to replenish it. I don't think doctors look at this aspect. Even the smallest things seem overwhelming to me when I'm exhausted. Will investigate today.
Another way that I find works well to take Kratom is:
Put the dose (for me 2/3rds of a heaped teaspoon) into a dry glass. Add a little water and use a teaspoon to stir the Kratom into a paste/slurry - the Kratom will change colour from a lighter colour to a darker colour after 30seconds or so of stirring. Add some full fat milk (around 1/2 to 2/3rds of a 250ml glass) and something to sweeten the mixture (if you want - I use a few drops of a Soda Stream flavour syrup). Stir the concoction wilth the teaspoon to dissolve the Kratom as much as possible in the milk. Drink. Finally add some more milk to the glass (say 1/8th of 250ml glass) and swill around to catch any Kratom that remains on the sides/bottom of the glass. Drink. Using milk is a lower carb option than fruit juice.
thank you all for your replies - I took my first dose last night - half a teaspoon ( as recommended in the kratom guide for a new batch) and mixed it with some chocolate milk - it was fine. I slept for 4 hours after about 15 minutes so very pleased with first attempt. I will try again with a larger dose tomorrow. So good to have everyone's comments, this forum has helped me so much.
Hi Lenilatt. Me again. I just found a site showing a kratom legality map of all the US states. Georgia is fine. Thanks again. It can be bought locally but I wouldn't trust the vendors or sources so will stick with the site I found online.
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