Pharmacists don’t miss the opportunity to deepen your understanding of kratom. A botanical used by up to 20 Million Americans!
University of Florida
PHARMACISTS : Kratom as a popular product for self-treatment: An overview for pharmacists is now available for continuing education hours
**Summary**
Over the past decade, products derived from the kratom leaves of the *Mitragyna speciosa* tree have gained popularity in the US. The kratom preparations, native to countries in Southeast Asia, are estimated to be used by 2-15 million users in the US alone, often in combination with other supplements, over-the-counter, and prescription drugs (Henningfield et al., 2022). These products are reported to be used for a range of self-treatment options, including pain, mental disorders, mitigation of drug withdrawal symptoms, and mood elevation in general (Swogger et al., 2022). Most clinical practitioners, including pharmacists, are not knowledgeable about these products and are not well equipped to counsel patients.
To address this deficiency, the “Kratom as a popular product for self-treatment: An overview for pharmacists” course will provide practicing pharmacists with an overview of its known pharmacology, chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and use patterns. This includes potential pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions and current patterns of use and related pharmacological evidence to support such uses. In addition, these products vary in composition, including raw kratom material, hydroalcoholic extracts, and isolated compounds, and the course will provide participants with an understanding of the differences between such products.
Given that a majority of its users do report pre-existing conditions and, in many cases, receive pharmacotherapy, the course will emphasize the counseling points to benefit patient care.
This course is approved by the Florida Board of Pharmacy for 4.0 contact hours to meet requirements pursuant to CHAPTER 64B16-26, Florida Statutes and Rule 64B16-26.300, Florida Administrative Code.”
