Written By Kami Davis
Here is a media outlet by the name of Bicycle, Health. This blog is mainly biased in writing usually demonizing Kratom, mitragynine speciosa. However, today I was pleasantly shocked to see them write about the possible negative side-effects of their drug of choice, Suboxone.
I’m not like the majority of the MAT community bashing anyone for choosing Kratom over Suboxone. It doesn’t make rational sense to knock any of us for choosing Kratom over Suboxone. Wake up people, because they are both partial agonists. There is a difference though.
Kratom is distinctly different. It is not an opioid. Suboxone is an opioid just weaker. But, Kratom has the wonderful effects of opioids but the magic is that it doesn’t bind to the receptors in the same way, making it safer. Suboxone (also) partially binds except it holds a risk for respiratory depression because it IS an opioid derived from a poppy plant; containing two chemical compounds, one synthetic being thebaine compounded in a lab in the late 50s.
“Buprenorphine is a thebaine derivative significantly more potent than morphine. Buprenorphine also has very high binding affinity for the μ receptor such that opioid receptor antagonists (e.g. naloxone) only partially reverse its effects. “ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/thebaine
Kratom is derived from a coffee tree. Kratom isn’t derived from a poppy plant. Therefore, it doesn’t cause respiratory depression. The mistake that the FDA makes is confusing the public by calling it an opioid simply because it binds to receptors in our brain. That may be true (that it binds to receptors in the brain) but it isn’t derived from the poppy or chemically made up the same as opioids. It binds partially and because it binds partially and it is not derived from the poppy family nor synthetic it cannot cause respiratory depression, like Suboxone can.
Below is an excerpt from the article written by Bicycle Health, (March 2023).
“If Suboxone helps you to stop misusing stronger, more addictive opioids, the overall health benefits it provides more than outweigh its negative properties and health risks. Regular misuse of more powerful opioids is far more dangerous than the prescribed, controlled use of a partial opioid agonist like buprenorphine.” https://www.bicyclehealth.com/suboxone-faq/can-suboxone-cause-pancreatitis
Now let’s use this same excerpt above but replace Suboxone with Kratom and you get:
If Kratom helps you to stop misusing strong addictive opioids, the overall health benefits it provides more than outweigh its negative properties and health risks. Regular misuse of powerful opioids is far more dangerous than the over–the-counter legal use of a partial agonist like Kratom, mitragynine speciosa.
You get the picture? It is clear to see that Kratom is a safe, effective, and beneficial option for many uses. Millions of people including myself are proving this to be true each and every single day of our existence here on earth. Because of Kratom, I am one of those happy existences.
Written By Kami Davis
Southeast Beautiful Kratom Education 