Is Using Suboxone for Kratom Withdrawal Effective and Safe?
This page is going to answer a relatively simple but important question: Does Suboxone block kratom?
If you are going through withdrawal symptoms while attempting to stop kratom use, you may be wondering if Suboxone will be an effective solution to get you through this difficult time. The short answer is that, yes, in many cases, MAT with Suboxone can be effective for kratom withdrawals.
We’ll explore the relationship between kratom and Suboxone below, so you can continue this battle against kratom addiction while armed with the information you need to make smart choices.
It’s always easier to confront any type of addiction when you have a supportive team on your side.
That’s exactly what you’ll find at South Shores Detox. Whether you are trying to break free from kratom use, have an opioid addiction, or are dealing with anything else that leads to severe withdrawal symptoms, our facility is an ideal place to get clean and look toward a brighter future.
Keep reading to learn more about kratom and Suboxone, and remember we are only a confidential call away for immediate support!
Can MAT Medications Help Overcome Kratom Withdrawal?
Before we can talk about how Suboxone can help those trying to break a kratom dependence, we first need to go over the basics of what kratom is and what it does to the body. If you are struggling with a kratom addiction personally, this section may already be familiar territory.
However, if you are here to explore help for a loved one struggling with this substance, you might need a bit of background.
Kratom is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular in the United States for its opioid like effects. When it is only used in low doses, it can act like a stimulant and may lead to increased energy and focus. As the size of a dose increases, the effect of this substance changes.
In greater volumes, it tends to produce a sedative effect, and can offer pain relief. Regular use over time is likely to lead to a dependence that causes withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, nausea, and strong cravings. These are similar to opioid withdrawal symptoms and they make it very difficult to get away from the substance once a pattern of use exists.
Traditional Kratom vs. 7-OH Kratom
It’s also important to take a moment to highlight the increasing popularity of 7-OH kratom products. Traditional kratom, which is available widely in powder, capsule, shots, and extract forms, is not particularly powerful when taken in small doses.
However, 7-OH kratom is a more concentrated form of the substance that is significantly more powerful, meaning it carries a higher risk of addiction and stronger withdrawal symptoms. In many ways, using 7-OH kratom regularly mirrors opioid use disorder, and most people will struggle to manage withdrawal symptoms effectively if they try to quit on their own.
How Suboxone Works for Kratom Addiction
Suboxone is a medication-assisted treatment that is often used to help treat opioid addiction. It contains buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid agonist, along with naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist.
When Suboxone is taken, the buprenorphine binds with opioid receptors in the brain, which causes a reduction in withdrawal symptoms. Gradually, as time passes without using opioids, the opioid dependence that had been established will be decreased, and the individual will hopefully enter lasting recovery.
Does Suboxone Block Kratom?
The good news here is that, yes, Suboxone can block the effects of kratom, at least to some extent. Taking Suboxone will cause some of the opioid receptors to be blocked in the brain, limiting the number of receptors that are available for the kratom to bind.
Therefore, the effects of kratom will be muted, if not blocked entirely. So, just as it can treat opioid withdrawal, Suboxone can be an effective tool to help those who are addicted to kratom.
It’s important to get the timing right when using Suboxone for this purpose. Specifically, if Suboxone is started too quickly after the last kratom dose was taken, a sudden, intense onset of withdrawal symptoms known as precipitated withdrawal can be the result. This is particularly true for powerful forms of kratom, such as the 7-OH products we mentioned above.
How Can Suboxone Be Used for Kratom Withdrawal?
There are a few key points to keep in mind if you are interested in using Suboxone to handle withdrawals after stopping the higher doses of kratom that you have been taking.
Supervised Medical Care is Crucial
First and foremost, your detox process should take place in the presence of medical professionals. These experts will be able to tailor your Suboxone treatment to your individual needs, and they’ll be able to make adjustments as necessary along the way.
Medical care during detox is crucial for your safety, as this is the essential first step in any addiction treatment process.
Tapering Strategy
A structured taper using Suboxone helps the body gradually adjust to living without kratom. This approach can minimize withdrawal symptoms, although you’ll still experience some effects as you break free from kratom use disorder. If you’ve tried to quit kratom before and been unsuccessful, a detailed tapering strategy can make all the difference.
Combination with Comprehensive Care
Don’t expect to get away from taking kratom by using Suboxone alone. This medication can be helpful, but you also need a variety of other strategies on your side. Just like when trying to quit other substances, you’ll want to explore counseling, mental health support, and behavioral therapies. Taking this type of integrated approach is far more likely to lead to lasting results.
What Are the Benefits of Suboxone for Kratom and 7-OH Kratom Detox?
Perhaps the biggest benefit of using Suboxone in this application is the reduction of withdrawal symptoms. It’s those symptoms that make it so hard to quit kratom use, but if the withdrawal symptoms are muted, the detox process can pass more easily.
To relieve pain, cut down on nausea, and limit the prevalence of diarrhea, using Suboxone as one of your treatment options is a smart move.
Reducing cravings is another valuable reason to consider Suboxone. This medication is used to treat opioid addiction in large part because of the reduction in psychological urges that it can deliver.
Whether you are trying to get away from regular kratom products or you have been using 7-OH varieties, the use of Suboxone may greatly cut down on your urges while in detox.
Get Support at South Shores Detox for Kratom Today
The best time to start the detox process is as soon as possible. And, it’s best to go through this process under the watchful eye of a trained team like the staff at South Shores Detox. Receiving care here will allow you to access medication-assisted treatment, and you’ll be helped through the hardest moments of kratom and opioid withdrawal.
Even in low doses, kratom can start to build an addiction within your body, and those doses are likely to grow over time as you need more and more to achieve the same effect. Whether you started because of chronic pain or you just decided to try it with other people, the downward spiral of addiction can quickly accelerate.
Make a move toward breaking free from kratom today by calling South Shores Detox for assistance. Every call to our facility is confidential, so please reach out now for proven support options.