Thinking about taking CBD and kratom together? You’re not alone. Many people ask about CBD & kratom interactions because both are common wellness products—yet science warns there may be real risks, especially around sedation, liver stress, and how your body metabolizes other medications.
Below, you’ll find clear, evidence-based safety insights, what experts look for, and practical steps to protect yourself.

Fast facts: Are CBD and kratom safe to combine?

  • Human studies on using both together are lacking. Most guidance comes from pharmacology data, case reports, and expert opinion.
  • Both can affect liver enzymes that process drugs, potentially raising blood levels of each other and of your medications.
  • Both can cause drowsiness; combining may increase risks like dizziness, poor coordination, or rare respiratory depression—especially with alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines.
  • If you take prescription meds, have liver issues, or are pregnant/breastfeeding, avoid combining unless a clinician overseeing your care says it’s necessary and safe.

What are CBD & kratom interactions?

1) Shared liver pathways (CYP450 and transporters)

CBD can inhibit liver enzymes such as CYP3A4 and CYP2C19. Kratom’s primary alkaloids (e.g., mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine) can inhibit CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Both may also affect drug transporters like P-glycoprotein.

Why this matters: If two substances slow the same enzymes, the levels of one or both can climb, increasing side effects like excessive sedation, nausea, or liver strain. This also applies to many common medications processed by these pathways.

2) Overlapping effects on the brain and body

At higher amounts, kratom can have opioid-like, sedating properties. CBD may cause drowsiness in some people. Together, that can amplify fatigue, delayed reaction time, and impaired judgment.

Kratom has stimulant-like effects at lower amounts, then turns sedating at higher amounts—an unpredictable curve that complicates mixing with CBD.

3) Liver and heart considerations

High-dose CBD has been linked to elevated liver enzymes in some users. Case reports have tied kratom to acute liver injury in rare instances. Combining two agents with potential liver impact raises caution, particularly if you drink alcohol or use other hepatotoxic medications.

Some reports also link kratom to cardiovascular effects like increased heart rate or blood pressure. Layering CBD may blunt or complicate those signals, making self-monitoring harder.

Who is at higher risk from CBD & kratom interactions?

  • People taking sedatives: opioids, benzodiazepines, sleep meds, some antihistamines
  • People on antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers (risk of elevated drug levels or serotonin-related effects)
  • Those on blood thinners, anti-seizure meds, heart rhythm drugs, or transplant medications
  • Anyone with liver disease, heavy alcohol use, or multiple prescription drugs
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals (avoid due to insufficient safety data)

Real-life example: What a pharmacist noticed

Alex, 34, started a CBD tincture for sleep. Two weeks later, a friend suggested kratom tea for afternoon fatigue. After using both on the same day, Alex felt lightheaded and “foggy,” with a racing heart later that evening.

Alex’s pharmacist explained that both products can affect liver enzymes and the nervous system. The pharmacist recommended stopping the combination, checking all current medications for possible supplement interactions, and following up with a clinician. After discontinuing kratom and spacing out CBD under medical guidance, the symptoms resolved.

Step-by-step safety checklist from clinicians

  1. Get personalized advice: Tell your healthcare professional about CBD, kratom, and all medications or supplements you take.
  2. Screen for interactions: Ask a pharmacist to run a formal interaction check, including CYP450 and transporter considerations.
  3. Mind the law and quality: Confirm local legality. Choose products with recent Certificates of Analysis (COAs), contaminant screening, and verified potency.
  4. Avoid co-use without oversight: Do not combine CBD and kratom unless your clinician explicitly supports it and monitors labs or symptoms.
  5. Never mix with alcohol or sedatives: This combination raises the risk of dangerous CNS depression.
  6. Monitor warning signs: Excessive drowsiness, confusion, jaundice, dark urine, unusual bruising, fast or irregular heartbeat—seek medical care if these occur.
  7. Keep a log: Track timing, amounts, effects, and other meds. Share the log with your clinician for better safety decisions.

What the science and experts suggest

There are no robust clinical trials on using CBD and kratom together. However, lab studies, case reports, and expert reviews show both can inhibit key metabolic enzymes and may compound sedation. Toxicologists and pharmacists typically urge caution or avoidance, especially for people on prescription drugs or with liver concerns.

Regulatory agencies caution that CBD and kratom are not risk-free. CBD may alter drug levels, and kratom has been linked—sometimes with other substances—to serious adverse events. In other words, the absence of trials is not the absence of risk.

Product quality matters more than you think

  • Insist on third-party COAs that confirm identity, potency, and purity (heavy metals, pesticides, microbes).
  • Avoid products making disease-treatment claims; they’re red flags for poor compliance.
  • Start with one product at a time. Adding multiple new supplements obscures what’s causing side effects.

Thoughtful product selection and smart timing can reduce uncertainty, but they don’t eliminate risk when mixing CBD and kratom.

Conclusion

The bottom line: Because CBD & kratom interactions may raise sedation and impact liver metabolism, most experts recommend avoiding the combination unless your clinician reviews your full medication list and actively monitors you. If you decide to explore either product, use one at a time, prioritize quality, and seek professional safety insights first.

FAQs

Is it safe to take CBD and kratom together?

There’s no definitive human research proving safety. Both can affect liver enzymes and cause sedation. Most clinicians advise against combining without medical oversight, especially if you take other medications.

What signs suggest a harmful interaction?

Excessive drowsiness, confusion, trouble breathing, rapid or irregular heartbeat, jaundice, dark urine, severe nausea, or unusual bruising. Seek care immediately if these occur.

Can CBD change how kratom feels—or vice versa?

Possibly. By inhibiting shared enzymes, one may raise the levels of the other, which can intensify or prolong effects and side effects. Responses vary widely between individuals.

Who should avoid this combination altogether?

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those with liver disease, anyone taking sedatives or multiple prescription drugs, and individuals with a history of substance use disorder should avoid combining.

How do I reduce risk if I already used both?

Stop co-use, avoid alcohol and sedatives, and monitor for red-flag symptoms. Contact your clinician or pharmacist for an interaction review and guidance.