Does Kratom Get You High? (& How Much Kratom Gets You High?)
Jun 25th 2025
As kratom's popularity grows among fitness enthusiasts and wellness seekers, many wonder "does kratom get you high?" and "how does kratom make you feel high?" These questions reflect growing curiosity about this botanical's psychoactive properties and potential effects on consciousness. Understanding kratom's impact on mood, perception, and overall experience is crucial for anyone considering incorporating it into their wellness routine, especially those focused on maintaining peak physical and mental performance.
Does Kratom Get You High?
Yes, kratom can produce psychoactive effects that some users often describe as a "high." The plant's alkaloids interact with brain receptors to create euphoria, mood elevation, and altered consciousness, though effects vary significantly based on dosage, strain type, and individual sensitivity levels to kratom strains.
How does kratom make you high?
So, how does kratom make you feel high? Kratom contains naturally occurring alkaloids, primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which interact with opioid receptors in the brain. Unlike traditional opioids, kratom's alkaloids act as partial agonists, meaning they activate these receptors but with a "ceiling effect" that limits their intensity. This interaction can produce feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and altered mood states that some users describe as a "high."
The mechanism behind kratom's psychoactive effects involves its binding to mu-opioid receptors, which are the same receptors targeted by prescription pain medications and illicit opioids. However, kratom also interacts with other neurotransmitter systems, including adrenergic and serotonergic pathways, creating a more complex pharmacological profile. This multi-target approach explains why kratom's effects can vary significantly between users and dosages.
For fitness enthusiasts, understanding this mechanism is crucial because these same alkaloids that produce euphoric effects can also impact energy levels, focus, and recovery. This is why many athletes are interested in working out on kratom - the same compounds that create psychoactive effects may also support physical performance when used responsibly.
How much kratom gets you high?
So, how does kratom make you feel? Well, you need to be aware that different kratom strains have stronger effects, so the amount needed to produce psychoactive effects varies significantly based on several factors including strain potency, individual tolerance, body weight, and previous experience with kratom.
Generally, lower doses (1-5 grams) tend to produce stimulating effects similar to caffeine, while moderate doses (5-15 grams) are more likely to create the euphoric sensations people associate with getting "high." Higher doses (15+ grams) typically produce sedating effects rather than euphoria. However, these ranges are highly individual and can vary dramatically between users.
For those seeking consistent, measured experiences, a kratom energy drink like our kratom seltzers, for example, contains precisely measured amounts that allow users to understand their individual response without the guesswork involved in powder measurements. This controlled approach is particularly valuable for fitness enthusiasts who want to understand how kratom affects their performance and recovery.
It's important to note that some strains are specifically cultivated for their euphoric properties. The most euphoric kratom varieties typically include certain red and green strains that have higher concentrations of mood-altering alkaloids. However, starting with lower doses regardless of strain is always recommended for safety and to assess individual sensitivity.
The dangers of using kratom to get high
While kratom may offer potential benefits for fitness and wellness when used responsibly, getting high on kratom comes with significant risks that every user should understand. Using kratom primarily for its psychoactive effects rather than its potential therapeutic benefits can lead to problematic patterns of use and serious health consequences.
- Addiction and Dependence Risk - Regular use of kratom for euphoric effects can lead to physical dependence and addiction, requiring increasingly higher doses to achieve the same effects.
- Tolerance Development - Users seeking psychoactive effects often escalate their dosage quickly, leading to tolerance that diminishes kratom's beneficial properties while increasing side effect risks.
- Respiratory Depression - High doses used to achieve euphoric effects can suppress breathing, particularly when combined with other substances or in individuals with respiratory conditions.
- Liver Toxicity - Excessive kratom consumption, especially when chasing euphoric effects, can strain the liver and potentially cause hepatotoxicity in some individuals.
- Cardiovascular Complications - Large doses can affect heart rhythm and blood pressure, posing risks especially for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
- Impaired Cognitive Function - Using kratom to get high can significantly impair decision-making, reaction times, and overall cognitive performance, affecting daily activities and athletic performance.
- Social and Legal Consequences - Depending on your location, kratom's legal status varies, and using it recreationally may have legal implications or impact employment.
- Interference with Training Goals - For fitness enthusiasts, using kratom primarily for euphoric effects can undermine training consistency, recovery, and overall athletic performance.
Can kratom get you high? Our conclusion
Kratom can produce psychoactive effects that some users describe as a "high," but this shouldn't be the primary reason for using this botanical. For fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals, kratom's potential benefits for energy, focus, and recovery are far more valuable than any euphoric effects.
The key to responsible kratom use lies in understanding your goals, starting with appropriate doses, and choosing quality products that provide consistent experiences. White Rabbit's kratom seltzers offer a controlled, measured approach that allows users to experience kratom's potential benefits without the unpredictability and risks associated with chasing euphoric effects.
Remember that using any substance primarily for its psychoactive effects carries inherent risks. If you're interested in kratom's potential to support your fitness goals and overall wellness, focus on responsible use, quality products, and moderate doses that align with your training and recovery needs rather than seeking intense psychoactive experiences.
FAQs
What is a kratom high similar to?
A kratom high is often described as similar to mild opioid effects combined with stimulant properties, depending on the dose and strain. Users report feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and mood elevation that can resemble effects from kratom and alcohol combinations, though kratom alone is significantly safer when used responsibly.
The experience typically includes enhanced mood, reduced anxiety, and a sense of well-being. At lower doses, users might feel more alert and energetic, similar to caffeine but with additional mood-lifting properties. Higher doses tend to produce more sedating effects with stronger euphoric sensations that some users compare to prescription pain medications, though generally milder and shorter-lasting.
Will kratom get you high on low doses?
Low doses of kratom (1-5 grams) typically produce stimulating rather than euphoric effects, though some sensitive individuals may experience mild mood elevation. These doses are more likely to provide energy, focus, and alertness similar to coffee rather than the sedating "high" associated with larger amounts.
However, individual sensitivity varies significantly, and some people may experience subtle psychoactive effects even at low doses. Factors like body weight, tolerance, strain potency, and individual brain chemistry all influence how kratom affects each person. For fitness enthusiasts, these lower doses often provide the energy and focus benefits without significant psychoactive effects that might interfere with training performance.