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Headaches, nausea, dizziness — we all know what kratom side effects look like. And while it’s possible for these symptoms to occur exclusively of one another, experiencing them all together—known as kratom wobbles—might point to something else entirely.
Wobbles, a term used to describe a kratom side effect that involves changes in eyesight, can result in a number of other uncomfortable symptoms. Typically associated with a miscalculated dose, kratom wobbles can be majorly unpleasant. Fortunately, there are things you can do to soothe the problem.
What is Kratom Wobbles?
The term ‘wobbles’ was coined to define the unique experience that kratom users have when taking doses that exceed their threshold. Wobbles are characterized by difficulty in keeping the eyesight focused. Other kratom users also report wobbles that cause involuntary twitching of the eyes.
Though, not everyone experiences the wobbles. Even some individuals who admit to taking a higher dose than necessary might not report experiencing the wobbles, albeit developing other symptoms of an overdose.
What Causes Kratom Wobbles?
It’s not entirely clear how kratom wobbles happen. But what most users report is that the side effect occurs after taking a dose that’s beyond their usual intake. However, there are more alleged causes of kratom wobbles than just that, and these include:
- Taking kratom with a potentiator
- Using kratom and certain medications together
- Consuming alcohol with kratom
- Trying kratom products that incorporate hemp derivatives, especially psychoactive compounds
- Using certain varieties of kratom for the first time
- Taking a dose of kratom from a new vendor or brand you haven’t tried before
- Using kratom that hasn’t been sent to a third-party lab for testing
Keep in mind that eye wobbles are also known as medical symptoms. Nystagmus is a condition characterized by the sudden, involuntary, back-and-forth movement of the eyes. If you notice that you experience eye wobbles even without taking a kratom dose, it’s imperative that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.
What Do Kratom Wobbles Feel Like?
The experience is different for everyone. While some users might have a very mild manifestation of kratom wobbles, others might be completely incapacitated by the side effect. Here’s what kratom wobbles might feel or look like:
- Sudden and involuntary movement of the eyes
- Difficulty keeping the eyesight focused on a specific subject
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to changes in light
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Motion sickness or nausea
- Difficulty balancing
- Vomiting
- Double-vision
- Going cross-eyed
Kratom wobbles can be very uncomfortable and may make you want to stay still and close your eyes until it’s over. Needless to say, wobbles can significantly impact productivity, motivation, and your ability to concentrate.
Risks of Kratom Wobbles
While the wobbles produce serious discomfort and an array of unpleasant symptoms, it’s not life-threatening. The biggest danger that a person might face when assailed by kratom wobbles is the risk of dehydration.
Serious fluid loss from excessive vomiting can be a potential health risk for certain individuals. That’s why it’s important to resolve kratom wobbles promptly, especially if the individual experiences severe nausea and excessive vomiting.
How to Stop Kratom Wobbles
Kratom wobbles can stick around for as long as there’s enough kratom in your system to cause it. As your dose wanes, you can expect the wobbles to die down along with it. But since it’s typically associated with an excessive kratom dose, it’s possible for kratom wobbles to persist for prolonged periods of time.
To minimize the symptoms and expedite the waxing away of the kratom wobbles, here are a few home remedies you can try:
1. Use activated charcoal
Activated charcoal works as a powerful adsorbent. When introduced into the body, the substance attracts compounds around it to prevent them from permeating your bloodstream and gut.
Taking activated charcoal can help reduce the concentration of alkaloids in your system and thus minimize the strength of the wobbles. There’s no specific dose requirement for activated charcoal, but a tablespoon of activated charcoal in a glass of water should be sufficient.
2. Eat a full meal
An empty stomach more readily absorbs anything you introduce into your system. This means that a dose of kratom taken before any meal can work faster and stronger than it would have taken if you chose to eat your lunch first.
If your nausea will permit it, try to eat a full meal. Starchy food like bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice can help water down the effects of kratom and improve your metabolism so as to break down the alkaloids in your gut much faster.
3. Sleep it off
Sleeping while you feel nauseated and dizzy presents a unique challenge. But most kratom users recommend trying to sleep off the symptoms until they’re gone. Given that a kratom dose might last up to eight hours, taking a nice long nap lets you bypass the raging symptoms.
Keep in mind though that if you’re experiencing wobbles, it’s not advised that you take a sleep supplement. As much as possible, it’s not recommended that you introduce any other supplements or medications into your system. If you’re struggling to fall asleep, just lie down and close your eyes to reduce the discomfort.
4. Try nausea home remedies
Before you brew any tea for nausea, see to it that you know which herbal teas have been known to potentiate kratom. Kratom potentiators amplify the effects of kratom. Things like chamomile, lemon, and mint — which are typically used to soothe nausea — can also strengthen kratom’s effects.
If you’re not sure which teas to avoid, you can try diffusing a peppermint scent. Ginger candies, breathing exercises, and a massage can help mitigate nausea and calm your urge to purge.
5. Stay calm
Highly stimulating, stressful environments can magnify the kratom wobbles experience. Individuals at the height of discomfort should seek to stay in a dimly lit room with minimal stimulation.
At the first signs of the wobbles, find a quiet place to hunker down. Keep the lights low and avoid any loud sounds. You can also try playing some calming music to soothe your mind. Find a comfortable place to have a seat or to lay down, and keep your eyes closed. If you’re in a moving vehicle, it’s best to pull over.
How to Prevent Kratom Wobbles
Kratom wobbles are not pleasant. Fortunately, you can do a number of things to prevent them from happening in the first place. Remember though that everyone reacts differently to different kratom products. So while these tips might minimize the risk, there will always be a chance that you develop wobbles anyway.
1. Calculate the right dose
Taking too much kratom causes more than just wobbles. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you take only the right amount to reach your therapeutic threshold.
Whether you’re using kratom for the first time or trying a new strain, color vein, or vendor for the first time, it pays to calculate the right dose. Start with a dose of 1-2g and gradually increase to meet your threshold. Add 1-2g increments with each new dose until you get the right effects.
2. Research products carefully
AKA-GMP certification, third-party lab testing, and tons of positive consumer-generated feedback all point to a reliable brand with a good product.
Although low prices might be particularly enticing, cheap kratom isn’t always good kratom. See to it that you carefully consider all of the angles before you make a purchase, and avoid products that don’t meet the right standards.
3. Approach new products with caution
Not all kratom is the same. Extracts, resins, tinctures, and concentrates naturally have higher mitragynine content than your standard powders and capsules.
So even if you’ve been using kratom for years, or if you just started, always test small amounts of the product first. This allows you to see how your body might respond and prevents major side effects and adverse reactions from happening in the first place.
4. Find the right strain for you
What works for someone else might not always work for you. See to it that you carefully assess available strains to determine which one will provide you with the results you’re looking for.
While there’s no research to back it up just yet, the wobbles are usually associated with specific strains. These include Maeng Da, Plantation, Bentuangie, and Horn. If you’re particularly sensitive to the effects of kratom, use these specific strains with caution.
Do Specific Methods of Use Cause Kratom Wobbles?
Although online sources state that vaping kratom provides faster, stronger effects because of how it permeates the lungs and bloodstream, kratom users would disagree. According to various kratom enthusiasts on Reddit forums, vaping kratom requires more than double the dose to even feel the slightest effects.
Kratom breaks down with heat, so using a vape to enjoy its benefits doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get the alkaloid content as indicated on the packaging. So although vaping kratom is typically peddled as a one-way street to getting the wobbles, it’s not actually true.
All of that said, there is no specific method of using kratom that is more likely to cause wobbles than the other. Ultimately, the biggest reason for kratom wobbles still remains to take a higher dose than you need. So whether you vape it, eat it, drink it, or smoke it, if you take more than your body can handle, you might develop wobbles.
Over to You
The wobbles are no fun. Fortunately, you can avoid them altogether by being a responsible kratom user. So the next time you try a new strain, brand, or kratom product, tread with caution. Taking too much than your body can handle might just incapacitate you with a nauseating case of the kratom wobbles.