Innsbruck doctors report first Austrian kratom poisoning case

Medical professionals at the University Hospital of Innsbruck have reported the first documented case in Austria of a 22-year-old man suffering acute cardiac arrest following the consumption of kratom tea. The patient, who was previously healthy, experienced two cardiac arrests and required resuscitation and the permanent implantation of a pacemaker due to extreme bradycardia.

Toxicological analysis confirmed significantly elevated levels of mitragynine, the primary active component of the kratom plant, measuring 500 micrograms per liter of blood plasma. This level exceeds the median concentration of 398 micrograms per liter found in studies of 156 kratom-related deaths globally.

Medical experts and authorities, including the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, have issued warnings regarding kratom. While often marketed online as a natural remedy for pain, anxiety, and depression, experts caution that its safety and efficacy have not been sufficiently tested and that it can cause addiction and potentially fatal side effects.