Contents

My Brief
What is Kratom??
How do I take it?
What Can I Expect To Feel?
Can you overdose on it?
Is it addictive?
Is there a withdrawal?
Where Can I Get It?
What Kind Should I Get?
Summary / Recommendation
I want to start this review off with a couple of disclaimers…

1.) I am not, nor have I ever been, addicted to painkillers like Hydrocodone, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, etc.

2.) I am not a doctor, so don’t construe this as medical advice. Always check with your doctor before taking any kind of supplement.

3.) I am also not an addiction counselor, so if you’re fighting an addiction please don’t ask me for help. That’s not what I’m here for, and there’s plenty of other places you can turn for that.

What I do here at SupplementCritique.com is personally test out supplements and give my personal feedback as to how they worked for me.

I do this to help people make smart buying decisions, and to give you a “no nonsense” feedback about the results I get.

I struggled for awhile on whether or not I wanted to publish this post to my readers. I’m very hesitant to recommend anything that has the potential for addiction / withdrawal issues. I care about my visitors, and they deserve to get the best information possible.

With that said, I would never recommend something that I haven’t personally tested myself.

I also wanted to state that none of the products on this page are technically over the counter drugs.

If you’re looking for an over the counter opiates list, you’ll be shit out of luck because one doesn’t exist.

Sure, you have:

1. Advil – Not even close to being an opiate.
2. Tylenol – Also not even close.
3. Ibuprofren / Asprin – NSAIDs

Yes, all of these can provide effective pain relief at the right doses.

Yes, they’re all available over the counter.

But NO, none of them are opiates.

What I’m about to introduce to you is quite possibly the closest thing to NATURAL Hydrocodone that you will find ANYWHERE.

And you won’t even find it in your local CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, or any other prescription drug store.

That substance is called Kratom, and it will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF…

First, a bit of a background…

My Brief Opioid Medication History…

First off, I’ve never had any major injuries (knock on wood) that have caused me to use painkillers on a consistent basis. However, since I’m not too big on flossing my teeth I HAVE had several dental surgeries performed, including several root canals and a tooth pulled.

Each time I was prescribed a pain killer, and each time I took it until there was nothing left in the bottle. The feeling I got from them was exactly what you would expect. They put me in a good mood, help me feel relaxed / pain free, and even give an added kick to any alcohol buzz I was feeling (obviously not recommended, but to each his own).

When the bottle would go empty, there’s a certain sadness that comes about…that little magic pill that could make you feel so good was finally gone. Sure, I wanted more…But, I have PLENTY of friends and family who’s lives have taken a turn for the worse with their prescription painkiller addictions.

I knew EXACTLY what the long term consequences of taking opioid medications consistently were, and never felt the urge to try and “score” some off the street. It’s an expensive habit, causes long term health issues, and ultimately your tolerance gets to a point where you’re taking it “just to feel normal”.

Still, I’m a creature of habit…I’m always looking for products to test out that help me perform better, get bigger muscles, melt fat away, and even help me sleep. So, why not try and search around for something that could make me feel better?? Well, I finally found something that does just that.

How I Met Happiness…The Closest Thing To Prescription Painkillers

When I was researching / testing a substance called Phenibut, I came across a site called Top Extracts who sells a 99.99% pure version at a relatively modest price.

Just as I was about to checkout, I took a look at some of the other products they sold, and that’s when I came across a substance called Kratom…

What is Kratom??

Native to most of Southeast Asia, (Mitragyna speciosa korth) or Kratom is a tropical deciduous and evergreen tree in the coffee family. It behaves as a mu-opioid receptor agonist like morphine, and is used throughout the world to help relive pain, reduce stress, and in some cases produce motivation and increased productivity.

How do I take it?

Kratom generally comes in 2 methods of ingestion, via powder mixed in a liquid or capsules.

I prefer the powder version because they tend to produce better effects then those of capsules.

While the capsules are easy to take and transport, there’s just something about them that makes them not work as effective.

I’m not sure what it is, but it seems to hit WAY harder and is WAY more effective when it’s in powder form.

With Kratom powder, all you literally need to do is mix it in your drink of choice and gulp it down. For me, I like to mix it with Gatorade G2 lemon lime flavor, but some guys mix it in milk, water, orange juice, even their morning coffee. (never tried this, so can’t comment)

Because it tastes like a tea (tastes, smells, and even looks like tea), alot of guys make it into a hot tea.

I’ve never been a big fan of hot tea, but if you’re looking for a recipe here’s one that seems to be popular.

What Can I Expect To Feel?

I have to admit, the first few times I tried Kratom I didn’t get much of an effect. There was some noticeable giddiness / happiness, and an overall sense of calm and well being, but nothing revolutionary.

I realized, after much trial and error and research, that I was significantly under-dosing. Typically I would only take a 1/4 of a teaspoon full and drink it slowly.

I decided to increase the dose to a full, level teaspoon and drink it slowly over the course of an hour on an empty stomach. The results were TREMENDOUS…

It’s sort of a hard feeling to describe, but the way most Kratom extracts make me feel is a sense of sheer happiness, combined with an overall feeling of being perfectly content in the moment.

I could be watching the most boring TV show imaginable, and find enhanced interest in it.

I also notice a heightened state of awareness, almost a trance-like state of being in meditation. Kratom works perfect to help ease anxiety, produce feelings of euphoria, and can even help with erectile dysfunction from my experience.

However, there are many different varieties of Kratom, all of which produce different effects (more on that later).

Can you overdose on it?

As far as I’m aware, no.

With that said, there has been 15 “kratom related deaths” between 2014 and 2016.

HOWEVER, in practically every single case it was noted that MULTIPLE other substances were involved (such as prescription drugs and alcohol) or the decedent had an undiagnosed medical condition.

So basically it was unclear if Kratom was the actual culprit.

And in all likelihood, it probably wasn’t.

When stacked up against other “Hard drugs” like tobacco, aspirin, and peanuts, the numbers are put in a more delicate context.

Is it addictive?

The answer to this one depends on who you ask, but lots of things are addictive.

Coffee can be addictive.

Sex can be addictive.

Even exercise can be addictive.

It’s addictive to be happy, and if something is making you feel happy then you’ll have the urge to keep taking it, right???

If you have an addictive personality (like myself), then it would be responsible for you to approach Kratom use with caution.

This is why I always suggest that you limit your use of Kratom products to just a few times per week, max. With this stuff, the least amount seems to produce the most profound effect, while limiting any tolerance or addiction issues.

Is there a withdrawal?

Just like hydrocodone, oxycodone, vicodin, and oxycontin, yes. There is certainly a withdrawal period after consistent daily use. This all depends on your individual body chemistry, and how often you’re taking it.

I’ve personally experienced what I would consider to be a “withdrawal” from Kratom, just once. I had taken it for about 4 days straight, rotating the various strains, and on the 5th day I decided not to take any.

The feeling was unpleasant, but not unbearable. I felt groggy / tired, and a bit like I was coming down with the flu. For me, this seemed to only last about a day, but of course it can last longer depending on how often / how much you dose.

That said, I have read some horror stories about people withdrawing from Kratom, and it’s not a substance to be taken lightly. If you use it on an occasional basis like I do (couple of times per week max, at low doses) I would say you should have no withdrawal symptoms.

What’s The Legality?

In the United States, these legal vicodin alternatives are available in practically every state.

If you’re in the following states, you’re f#$cked (it’s illegal): Rhode Island, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Washington D.C., and Vermont.

If you’re in these states, you’re good to go (fully legal): Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina, Florida (except Sarasota county), Georgia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington state, Nevada, California, Alaska, and Hawaii.

If you’re in these states, things are not looking good (legislation is pending): New York, West Virginia, Mississippi.

Where Can I Get It?

There’s dozens of different vendors that sell Kratom, and I’ve had some very good (and very BAD) experiences with many of them. I’ve bought Kratom from:

• Happy Hippo Herbals
• Canopy Botanicals
• Phytoextractum
• Socal Herbal Remedies
• Gaia Ethnobotanical
• and a few others

My personal favorite is a company called Top Extracts Kratom. They are a medium sized vendor that sells practically every variation of Kratom you can think of.

Their prices are reasonable, they ship very quickly, and their customer service is great.

Most important, it’s actually the HIGHEST quality / grade Kratom you can buy on the market from my experience.

Their Kratom comes on smooth, doesn’t give you any nasty side effects, and it works GREAT.

Here’s their website: www.TopExtracts.com

What Kind Should I Get?

Well, this is a bit of a tough one…What I found (and what seems to happen with EVERYONE who uses Kratom) is that EACH and EVERY strain seems to work differently in every person. And by that I not only mean the strain, but also the amount that one takes, whether or not it’s on a full or empty stomach, time of day, hydration, etc.

Here’s a snapshot of my personal favorites:

HOWEVER, there’s A LOT of factors that go into determining which one will affect you in which way. For me, these are what I take for certain situations (again, your experience will likely differ / vary, it will take some experimenting on your part):

1.) Feel Relaxed / Good Mood / Pain Free

Typically I will get this feeling with Red Vein Bali, Super Green Malay, and White Indo. These are my “lazy” days where I typically will take it to just kick my feet up, throw a movie on, and relax.

They provide a gentle “warming” sensation that literally makes you feel like you took a hydrocodone / vicodin pill.

Generally speaking, and this is with all kratom, the larger the dose the more euphoric the effects. Now that doesn’t mean you should be chugging 20 grams of the stuff.

Think like 4 – 5 grams, which is about 1 level teaspoon (depending on the strain).

Here’s a link to buy the best strain for these effects: www.TopExtracts.com/product/classic-red-bali/

2.) Get Motivated / Productive / Focused

Usually I get a strong effect from Maeng Da, Red Vein Indo, and Red Vein Borneo. They seem to provide me with a consistent focus / motivation to help me get things done.

I usually take these 2 – 3 times a week when I’m a bit behind on schedule, and they never seem to fail me.

Unlike with the slow strains, you want to take as small a dose as possible.

Think like 2 – 3 grams, sometimes even less.

If you end up taking too much you’ll end up getting the sedating effects of Kratom, which is of course the opposite of what you’re shooting for in this case.

Here’s a link to buy the best strain for these effects: www.TopExtracts.com/product/red-maeng-da/

3.) Reduce Anxiety / Increase Social ability / Feel Happy

White Vein Borneo. Usually when I mix White Vein Borneo with a stimulant like Caffeine or 1,3, DMAA, I just feel really, really good.

It makes me very social-able and happy, as well as keeping anxiety levels at bay.

It’s kind of like a cross between the slower strains like Super Green Malay, and the faster ones like Maeng Da.

I like to take strains like this when I have chores to do for a couple of hours.

Here’s a link to buy the best strain for these effects: www.TopExtracts.com/product/white-borneo/

Summary / Recommendation

The key thing to remember is practically ALL of the versions of Kratom will produce ALL of the positive feelings listed above. However, each and every person WILL (I can’t stress this enough) respond to different types of Kratom and how much you’re taking.

This is why I recommend buying the beginners starter pack from Top Extracts. It includes a 50 gram sample of Red Vein Maeng Da, Green Vein Malay, and White Vein Bali.

By doing this you’ll be able to see which type works best for you, and in which ways. Here’s a link to their starter pack: www.TopExtracts.com/product/kratom-powder-sample-pack/

They also sell a capsule sample pack, which you can pick up here: www.TopExtracts.com/product/capsule-sample-pack/

Personally speaking, I prefer the powders over the capsules, as it seems to hit harder and faster.

With that said, you can’t beat the convenience of capsules!

I ALWAYS recommend you start off with a very low dose (1 – 3 grams TOPS) to assess how you feel before moving on to bigger doses.

If you’re looking for a healthy, all-natural alternative to prescription medications like Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, even Morphine, then Kratom might be worth your while. It’s relatively inexpensive, legal (as of now), and will help you lead a happier, more fulfilling life.

That said, you know your body and you know your limits. I would never recommend anything that I haven’t personally taken, including Kratom. But use it responsibly and you should start feeling great in no time.

Check out our other “Over The Counter” series articles below:

• 7 BEST Over The Counter Viagra Alternatives
• 5 BEST Over The Counter Modafinil Alternatives
• 5 BEST Over The Counter Adderall Alternatives
• 16 BEST OTC Male Enhancement Pills
• 8 BEST Over The Counter Phentermine Alternatives
• Over The Counter Xanax Alternatives

Have You Used Kratom? Leave Your Review Below!