Does Kratom work for ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)?

Kratom is the century’s new drug used for the treatment of various diseases. But it is famous for its analgesic action and it also helps in withdrawal from opiates. However, with more usage, it has been suggested by many users that the drug can be helpful for other diseases as well. Many users claim that Kratom helps in treating the symptoms of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD. How exactly? Here’s a possible answer.

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a complex mental disorder that primarily affects children and teens, and the state of the disease progresses into adulthood. Diagnosed children are hyperactive and hyperkinetic. They usually have trouble paying attention and have difficulties in learning at school. Adults with ADHD have problems in managing time and organizing things. They are more to drug abuse and addiction. They suffer problems in relationships and at the workplace.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

Symptoms in children include distraction, short memory, problems in organizing activities, make careless mistakes, doesn’t appear to be listening thus they do not follow directions or finish the task, tends to daydream and hate sitting at one place for a long duration of time, is impulsive and talks a lot.

Symptoms in adults include forgetfulness, anxiety, and low self-esteem, problems at work, trouble controlling anger, drug abuse, procrastination, impulsiveness, frustration, chronic boredom, mood swings, depression, relationship problems and difficulty concentrating when reading.

What causes ADHD and what is the treatment of ADHD?

ADHD is a disease with an unknown origin, but some researchers prove that brain areas that control attention are deficient in patients with ADHD. It runs in families and has a hereditary factor. A brain injury or disorder, consumption of lead or chemical imbalance in the brain can cause ADHD.

To treat ADHD, CNS stimulants are prescribed that include methylphenidate and amphetamine. These medications tend to help hyperactive and impulsive symptoms along with increasing attention span.

Does Kratom help in the treatment of ADHD?

It is necessary that if Kratom treats ADHD, it has something to do with the chemical aetiology of ADHD. Studies have shown that adolescents with ADHD lack the neurotransmitter serotonin that is involved in regulating learning, memory and mood. Such patients have an abnormal orientation of dopamine receptors in their brain causing deregulation.

Low levels of dopamine impair attention and focus while high concentrations cause the mind to race and increase sensory perception, causing overload on the brain. Thus cognitive functions in such children are reduced, and they lack motivation and emotional responses.

Such patients also have an imbalance of GABA, which is a calming neurotransmitter. Thus more excitatory responses are evoked.

This is where the role of Kratom comes in place. Since Kratom acts on the opiate receptors, it has an effect similar to that of opiates. So what does opiate do once it crosses the blood-brain barrier and reaches CNS?

It acts on the opiate receptors which are contained within the GABA receptors. When opiates bind to these receptors, they reduce the release of GABA which acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and decreases the release of dopamine. When the release of GABA is inhibited, dopamine is released freely by the dopamine receptors which were previously under the influence of GABA.

Similarly, Kratom acts on the opiate receptors to bring changes resulting in the release of dopamine which gives a better attention span and helps in focusing.

User reviews about Kratom usage and ADHD

Many users claim that Adderall and Ritalin have not helped them as much as Kratom for treating the symptoms of ADHD.

They claim that it helps in having better focus, and it benefits them working at the office.

On the other hand, other users are of the view that Kratom has very mild stimulant activity when compared with that of amphetamine. They say that Kratom can only help you in putting you in better spirits and help in productivity, but it provides the little bonafide therapeutic effect. It hardly increases focus, and some users even say that Kratom can make one cloudy mentally.

Another class of users knows that Kratom has effects nothing like that of amphetamine usage for ADHD. Yet, they continue to use Kratom for ADHD instead of amphetamine, simply because they do not like the side effects brought about by the consumption of amphetamine i.e. tachycardia, hypertension, palpitations, headache, etc.

They say that Kratom has fewer side effects. Thus it proves more helpful. Green Thai Kratom strain is particularly useful in enhancing concentration levels and performing better at school and job.

Users on Reddit are also of the view that consuming Kratom in ADHD patients can be hazardous because such patients have a tendency to get addict. It’s natural that they will get addict to Kratom as well, and that is another problem in itself, so it’s preferred to be prescribed a licensed medical practitioner.

Can I take Kratom and Amphetamine simultaneously?

Kratom users explain that they take amphetamine and Kratom at the same time to treat pain as well as ADHD. Many users take Kratom to get rid of the side effects of amphetamine such as anxiety, fatigue, depression and mood swings.

Is it safe to take the two drugs simultaneously?

The answer depends on the dose of each drug. The two drugs act in different areas of the brain, but they can interact thus potentiating each other’s effect resulting in problems. Both the drugs are metabolized in the liver, so overdosing can lead into hepatotoxicity.

Concluding this sensitive topic, it is a must that you consult a medical practitioner before trying the combination of the two drugs for the treatment of ADHD. It is necessary that you keep in mind the addictive properties of Kratom before consuming it for ADHD.

Amphetamine and related drugs used for ADHD are studied in greater details as compared to Kratom, so to stay on the secure side do not try the combination or Kratom alone for the treatment of ADHD without being prescribed.

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