Does Kratom Interact With MDMA?
Yes, MDMA and kratom carry a high risk of interacting with each other.
Both substances have considerable psychoactive effects. However, they don’t quite work against or in favor of each other, making the relationship tricky to define.
The risk of interaction between kratom and stimulants, such as MDMA, is moderate to high. Both substances exert a similar stimulant force on the central nervous system. Therefore, when used together, the risk of side effects associated with overstimulation increases significantly.
Taking kratom together with MDMA may also hinder MDMA’s metabolization.
MDMA is primarily metabolized in the liver by the CYP2D6 enzyme [1]. And — as it turns out — kratom is a potent inhibitor of CYP2D6 [2].
In practice, this would mean that kratom consumption would make it harder for the body to process and eliminate MDMA, which can easily lead to complications.
This can become even more problematic if MDMA use is common. Once metabolized, MDMA byproducts inhibit MDMA’s metabolization [3]. This means that if you were to take MDMA multiple times, severe problems could occur, including serotonin syndrome. Adding kratom to the mix only increases this likelihood.
MDMA Details & Specifications
| Drug Name | MDMA |
| Other Name s | Ecstasy, Molly |
| Classification | Stimulant |
| CYP Metabolism | CYP2D6 |
| Interaction With Kratom | Metabolic Inhibition |
| Risk of Interaction | Moderate to High |
Is it Safe to Take Kratom With MDMA?
No, it is not safe to mix these two compounds. If we assume that the MDMA is not being taken as a part of a clinical study, then we are almost certainly talking about recreational use, likely at some party or event.
In this situation, consuming a small amount of kratom while on MDMA can place you at serious risk. This situation is dangerous, not just because of the likelihood of these two interacting. Combining drugs — even those with relatively safe profiles — raises the risk of a severe health event.
Remember to consider kratom’s inhibitory effect on MDMA and how it can stay in your system longer, increasing the risk of toxicity and overdose.
Related: The Effects & Risks of Mixing Kratom With LSD
What is MDMA?
MDMA — often called “ecstasy” or “molly” — is short for 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a psychoactive stimulant drug.
Currently, MDMA is classified as a Schedule I substance, meaning it has no recognized medical uses and a high potential for abuse. However, MDMA is also known to have a lower incidence of dependence symptoms than most drugs of abuse [4].
MDMA functions by increasing serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline activity in the brain. It is usually taken orally through either pill or crystal form.
What is MDMA Used for?
MDMA is taken recreationally for its pleasant, stimulant, and euphoric effects. It is heavily associated with rave culture and clubbing.
The effects of MDMA include [3]:
- Enhanced sexuality
- Euphoria
- Facilitated communication
- Generalized sense of well being and happiness
- Increased empathy and feelings of closeness with others
- Increased sociability and confidence
- Inner peace
- Mild hallucination
At the moment, MDMA has no recognized medical uses. However, clinical trials show it has promise as a new treatment for severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What’s the Dose of MDMA?
Users regularly take between 50 and 150 mg of MDMA, but the amount per tablet might vary across different batches. Most people take a dose of 100 mg [7].
One big problem is that MDMA tablets are often contaminated with adulterants. If you plan to consume street-bought MDMA, you should attempt to test it for purity beforehand, as it could contain dangerous compounds.
Generic & Brand Name Versions
MDMA does not have brand names.
It does go by the following street names:
- Ecstasy
- Molly
- Speed
- X
- XTC
What Are the Side Effects of MDMA?
People use MDMA for its effects but forget or dismiss the unpleasant side.
Users have reported the following adverse effects from MDMA consumption [4]:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Bruxism
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Tachycardia
- Trismus
The most dangerous side effects include:
- Dehydration
- Hyperthermia (overheating)
- Hyponatremia
There is no definitive conclusion about the long-term effects of MDMA, but there is evidence of adverse effects stemming from lifetime exposure to the drug [5].
MDMA overdoses are rare events, but they do happen. Other drugs are almost always involved in these fatalities. In general, MDMA is considered less risky than other “hard drugs” like cocaine or alcohol [6].
What is Kratom?
Kratom is an all-natural herbal extract harvested from the leaves of a tropical evergreen tree known as Mitragyna speciosa.
It’s popular in Southeast Asia —namely Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Borneo region— where it has been used as a traditional medicine for a long time. Now, kratom is becoming popular in the United States due to its beneficial properties. Kratom provides stimulating mental energy and can help relieve chronic pain.
Kratom owes its benefits to the potent alkaloids that can be found inside it; the two most numerous are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
There are many ways to consume kratom, including capsules, tinctures, raw powder, and tea brews. However, it is essential to ensure you buy from a trusted source. Kratom is still unregulated, and many kratom products are contaminated with adulterants.
What is Kratom Used for?
Most people are attracted to the properties associated with low kratom doses: the stimulant effects the plant is most known for. Like coffee, kratom gives users a feeling of enhanced attention and mental energy. Some even report more creativity.
Once you start taking higher doses, kratom displays analgesic and anxiolytic properties. This is why kratom is so popular with people suffering from chronic pain and anxiety.
Other secondary uses of kratom exist. It can act as a sleep aid, a weight-loss supplement, and a treatment for opiate withdrawal symptoms.
What’s the Dose of Kratom?
It can be tricky to figure out how much kratom to use. What works for one person will be too much for another. Plus, you have to consider how each strain causes slightly different effects.
Start with low amounts, usually under 2g if you’re new. This way, you can see how you’ll react to it and adjust the dose accordingly. If you feel unpleasant side effects, use a little less to see if that helps.
The standardized kratom dosages are:
- Low dose (1 – 5 g)
- Medium dose (5 – 10 g)
- High dose (10 – 15 g)
What’s important to keep in mind is that you should never trust completely in standardized dosages. They can never account for all the different factors that influence proper dosage.
This is why it’s essential always to start slow when experimenting with a new compound. Learn how your body reacts to small doses first.
Also see: How Long Should I Wait Between Kratom Doses?
What Are the Side Effects of Kratom?
Kratom is known to have a milder side effect profile than other common medications, like antidepressants and painkillers. However, it’s still essential to know kratom’s side effects.
The following side effects of kratom are common but usually occur in larger doses:
There can be more severe side effects, but these are far less common.
More severe side effects of kratom include:
- Dependence
- Itchiness in the skin
- Liver damage (with long-term use)
- Loss of muscle coordination
- Low blood pressure
- Low libido
- Seizures
- Tremors
What Are the Different Types of Kratom?
Want to hear one of the best things about kratom? It comes in various strains, giving you a world of possibilities.
The strains are named after the color of the leaf’s vein, and even though they all have the same basic properties, certain strains emphasize a particular benefit more than others.
Don’t be thrown off by names; once the strains are processed, they all look the same.
White Vein Kratom
White vein kratom can help you through those long study sessions or add some pep in your step if you’ve got to get up early.
This kratom strain emphasizes the mentally stimulating properties and comes with a lower dose of kratom.
Red Vein Kratom
Red-veined kratom strains are best utilized for the treatment of specific conditions.
These strains are the best option if you want to induce kratom’s analgesic and anxiolytic qualities. High doses work best for severe pain and withdrawal symptoms.
Green Vein Kratom
Green vein kratom is the “middle” strain in the community. This is because it has an outstanding balance of all of the properties in the kratom spectrum. Unless you’re looking for extreme energy or massive pain relief, these strains work well.
Yellow Vein Kratom
Yellow vein kratom is just a subcategory because it doesn’t have any distinguishing features compared to the other three, except that it is the mildest strain. Like green strains, the yellows work well if you are a beginner or don’t have anything extreme you need them for.
Key Takeaways: Is it Safe to Mix Kratom & MDMA?
Consuming illegal drugs such as MDMA should never be considered “safe,” even if they are relatively so. This is not only because of the risks inherent in MDMA but also due to other factors.
Street-bought MDMA varies widely in its purity: it’s common for most MDMA to contain dangerous contaminants.
Once you add in the extra risk of consuming another drug like kratom, you can see why avoiding this combination is a good idea.
Do not consume kratom with MDMA. If you’re dead set on taking MDMA, seek a harm-reduction facility near you and have it tested for purity. Also, remember to hydrate with electrolytes once you take it.
- Steuer, A. E., Schmidhauser, C., Tingelhoff, E. H., Schmid, Y., Rickli, A., Kraemer, T., & Liechti, M. E. (2016). Impact of cytochrome P450 2D6 function on the chiral blood plasma pharmacokinetics of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its phase I and II metabolites in humans. PloS one, 11(3), e0150955.
- Hanapi, N. A., Ismail, S., & Mansor, S. M. (2013). Inhibitory effect of mitragynine on human cytochrome P450 enzyme activities. Pharmacognosy Research, 5(4), 241.
- Concheiro, M., Baumann, M. H., Scheidweiler, K. B., Rothman, R. B., Marrone, G. F., & Huestis, M. A. (2014). Nonlinear pharmacokinetics of (±) 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its pharmacodynamic consequences in the rat. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 42(1), 119-125.
- Meyer, J. S. (2013). 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): current perspectives. Substance abuse and rehabilitation, 4, 83.
- Garg, A., Kapoor, S., Goel, M., Chopra, S., Chopra, M., Kapoor, A., … & Behera, C. (2015). Functional magnetic resonance imaging in abstinent MDMA users: A review. Current drug abuse reviews, 8(1), 15-25.
- Nutt, D., King, L. A., Saulsbury, W., & Blakemore, C. (2007). Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse. The Lancet, 369(9566), 1047-1053.
- Kalant, H. (2001). The pharmacology and toxicology of “ecstasy”(MDMA) and related drugs. Cmaj, 165(7), 917-928.
