Once marketed as a safe alternative to alcohol, the Feel Free drink that contains an opioid-like substance, kratom, has been increasingly reported to cause addiction. So, is there a safe way to consume it?
The manufacturer of the drink, Botanic Tonics, agreed to pay $8.75 million as part of a class action lawsuit closed in April, which claimed that the company failed to warn consumers about the dangers of kratom.
However, a subreddit dedicated to quitting the Feel Free suggests that the struggle with addiction to what users call 'gas station heroin' didn't go away.
From spending $700 a week on this beverage to suffering withdrawal symptoms like chills and trouble sleeping, and even going to a rehab, Redditors share their experience of how an innocent 'feel good' drink wreaked havoc on their lives.
While we cannot verify the authenticity of these claims, no one may be safe from Feel Free's addictive effects, experts tell WellnessPulse.
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The Feel Free drink contains kratom, a plant that produces opioid-like effects, and kava, a depressant and muscle relaxant.
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The combination of these two ingredients may become addictive.
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Experts say there is no way to consume Feel Free safely, despite the manufacturer's claims that it doesn't cause harm when consumed in recommended amounts.
What is the Feel Free drink?
Promising mood lift, energy boost, and focus aid, the drink is based on kratom and kava. Together, these Feel Free ingredients impact the body and brain in a way that can become addictive, according to Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian at MyHealthTeam.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a plant indigenous to Southeast Asia, and has addictive and habit-forming potential. Zenker explains that kratom acts on opioid receptors in the brain, making it capable of creating physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms could come on rapidly, including anxiety, irritability, insomnia, muscle aches, and nausea.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), kratom is commonly used to self-treat conditions like pain, diarrhea, anxiety, depression, and opioid use disorder. As many as 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021.
Meanwhile, kavalactones in the leaves of kava (Piper methysticum), a plant native to the Pacific Island region, are known depressants and muscle-relaxants. They induce relaxation and drowsiness, says Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, the founder and principal food consultant at Mendocino Food Consulting.
A combination of these compounds creates a layered psychoactive effect that some users find addictive.
Dr. Bryan Quoc Le
Who shouldn't drink Feel Free?
People with a history of substance abuse, pregnant or nursing women, as well as people who are sensitive to the active ingredients, shouldn't consume the Feel Free drink, the manufacturer warns. It also may interact with some medications, underlining the importance of consulting a healthcare professional.
Those who consume energy-promoting supplements, caffeine, and energy drinks may want to proceed with caution, Zenker says.
Nor the use of other drugs like alcohol and marijuana advisable close to the consumption of Feel Free. Even herbal supplements could potentially interact with this product.
Those with mood disorders or other psychiatric conditions, like anxiety or depression, are generally advised to approach with extra caution, due to the drink's mood-altering effects.
Avery Zenker, RD
She adds that because of the risk that kava has on liver health, individuals with current liver conditions or a higher risk of liver conditions should be cautious.
The Feel Free drink is not available for individuals under 21. However, a TikToker, Michael Brown, has recently shared a story of how an allegedly underage boy asked him to buy the beverage at the gas station, and tried to grab his wallet after being refused, suggesting children may also be affected.
@yourbestiemisha WARNING ‼️ Due to the ingredients kratom and kava this seems to be drastically harming people. I didn’t know anything about this and could have easily picked up a bottle sitting on a gas station counter! Be safe 🫶 #feelfree ♬ original sound - yourbestiemisha
Is there a safe way to consume Feel Free?
The manufacturer claims that if Feel Free is consumed in recommended amounts – no more than one bottle or six capsules in a 24-hour period – it has not been shown to cause any serious physical or social harm.
However, experts interviewed by the WellnessPulse doubt one can consume the Feel Free drink risk-free.
Most people probably haven't had exposure to kratom or kava, so they wouldn't know if they're sensitive to its effects. In my opinion, the risks outweigh the potential benefits.
Avery Zenker, RD
There is no proven completely safe way to consume the Feel Free drink when used frequently and at high doses due to the documented dependence potential of its ingredients, according to Le.
Therefore, he advises consultation with a physician before trying the drink.
The takeaway
As the number of consumer reports that the Feel Free drink causes addiction increases, experts warn that there may be no entirely safe way to consume it.
4 resources
- Stat Pearls. Kratom.
- The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Kava: a comprehensive review of efficacy, safety, and psychopharmacology.
- Annals of Hepatology. Kava hepatotoxicity. A clinical review.
- FDA. FDA and kratom.
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