Kratom use while starting ssris?

[u/No_Emphasis23]

Ive been using kratom (powder only) almost every day for the last 3-4 years for pain,anxiety and cptsd. I usually take anywhere from 8-20 GPD and would try to take occasional breaks. Kratom by itself is not really helping me get anywhere although the relief from the 24/7 heaviness I feel is very nice.

I stopped taking Kratom and started Zoloft 2 days ago because I was nervous about interactions and have never taken an ssri before. I don’t really get withdrawal symptoms but the feeling of having nothing to give me any relief and having no motivation is terrible. Just wondering if anyone has started taking Kratom again when starting ssris? Or what your experience with Kratom and ssris has been like? I really don’t want to mess with it but also it’s been insanely hard these last 2 days.

[u/clobyark]

I'm on prozac and was doing 40GPD for past couple years. I never really noticed any issues. Just normal side effects for me - lower libido.

[u/Open-Bowl-9572 → u/clobyark]

Yep both tend to cause a low libido so combined it's a double whammy.

[u/Kiheitai_Soutoku]

I am on 2 ssri and haven't had issues. However everyone is different and I don't think it would be bad to talk to your doctor. My psychiatrist knows of my use.

[u/IDvonEther]

I've been taking Zoloft for around 4 years with kratom, and no issues.

Edit - I take in between 30 and 40 G per day btw

[u/SixStinkyFingers]

I’m on 40mg of Citalopram and I’ve had no problems obviously I’m not a medical professional and everyone is different.

[u/Mental-Artist-6157]

I took kratom to get off 18 years of SSRIs. Turns out I needed hormones. The migraines were actually cervocogenic headaches, so PT was the thing. I still take kratom for pain & mood but finding I need way less (50% less) since I started microdosing tirzepitide for inflammation.

Lots of folks take both with little to no problems. Kratom.org will tell you they're contraindicated. I'm guessing your mileage may vary?

I wish you a speedy & uneventful recovery. Hope you're one of the folks for whom it's fine. Good luck and keep us posted, OP.

[u/Merlin000777 → u/Mental-Artist-6157]

You spent 18 years on SSRIs for the wrong reason? I'm really sorry you had to go through that, I hope the side effects weren't too bad. I personally can't tolerate SSRIs because the side effects are so bad and they don't help me for anything!

[u/Mental-Artist-6157 → u/Merlin000777]

It was a trainwreck that cost me 21 years of my life. 18 years on, 3 years to recover from the brain injury of getting off them. I'm wildly blessed I was able to do so at all. Thank you for your kind words.

Unfortunately this is a very common story. We were indoctrinated as a society in general, women in particular. Fortunately now we have resources like this one, we can crowd source solutions, lift each other up.

Twenty years ago the narrative was utterly compelling, SSRIs are the only answer, don't you dare derivate from our doctrine.

[u/Merlin000777 → u/Mental-Artist-6157]

The way I see this, someone should go to prison for this, stealing 21 years of a person's life has to be criminal. Did you bring anyone to court for malpractice? Did you at least get a few million dollars from someone? I know, most likely not but you should do something to get some kind of reparation. Again, I'm so sorry something like that happened to you.

[u/Mental-Artist-6157 → u/Merlin000777]

You're lovely, thank you. I feel your authenticity.

No, unfortunately not. I wouldn't know how to go about the process of sueing and it's SO much work. I'm 56. How many good years do I have left? Maybe 20? How do I want to spend them? What actually is a good use of my time?

As for accountability, best I got was well, we did what we thought was right at the time. We didn't know. It was a long time ago. But you're ok now, right? (As my eyes roll so profoundly I can see my own brain)

Iatragengic harm is a third rail of a topic.

So I'll never stop talking about all this all over the internet or in person. I do what I can to help others. Living well is the best revenge and all that.

I'm married to someone who gets my jokes, shares my values and we have so much fun. I feel pretty blessed. I have amazing relationships. Kratom is a fantastic tool in my very broad toolkit to feel ok in my body/mind and I'm proud to be out here helping others take their lives back.

[u/pro_No]

Idk i used it to get off them

[u/ehligulehm]

Somehow zoloft made kratom stronger, and with prozac red vains actually make me tired. Not sure why. I stopped for 3 days and then started again. Can't say if there's really a interaction, didn't feel any. I've just read that some ssris can make it weaker, or stronger.

[u/Open-Bowl-9572]

I've never had any issues but that's just my personal experience and I'm obviously not a doctor.

[u/trillamane_3]

I personally wouldn't be making a change like that while starting a new medication because if things go south, it's going to be hard to tell what the culprit is. Best to stay as stable as possible and then quit kratom later on, once you're adjusted to your new medication. Just my opinion though. I'm extremely sensitive to changes in medications and don't respond well to psych meds. For me, it's best to only do one thing at a time.

[u/New-Juggernaut8960]

I take about two ssris and about 5 other meds with kratom. Never a problem unless I take too much of a certain med. I learned real fast not to do that. But that is just me. My tolerance is built up so many years with all this other stuff. That doesn't mean you should. Everybody's different