The time it takes to detox from kratom depends on the withdrawal timeline. Each person will go through withdrawal symptoms at a varying rate due to the level of their addiction, underlying mental and physical health issues, and whether they use other drugs in addition to kratom. While detox is the first step in treating kratom addiction, it is vital to continue treatment for long-term recovery.
Detox ATL is here to help people detox from kratom and find continuing care services. That way, they can successfully recover from the effects of kratom addiction—and build a new life free of substance abuse.
What is Kratom?
The drug called kratom refers to the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves are crushed and then smoked, brewed in tea, or ingested via capsules. Some kratom users chew the leaves directly instead of crushing them.
People use kratom because it has similar effects as stimulant drugs and opioids. According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), kratom produces stimulant effects in low doses and sedative effects in higher doses. People abuse kratom specifically for these effects, which can lead to physical health and mental health issues as well as addiction.
Is Kratom Addictive?
Kratom is an addictive substance because people use it to induce stimulant or sedative effects. The more kratom a person uses, and the more frequently they use it, increases their chances of developing an addiction. When a person is addicted to kratom, they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using it.
What Are Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms?
Kratom withdrawal symptoms begin soon after a person stops using kratom. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in intensity from person to person. However, the longer a person abuses kratom and the more kratom they take, the more likely they are to have severe withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Muscle spasms
- Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
- Trouble sleeping
- Hot flashes and sweating
- Aches and pains
- Mood swings and agitation
- Anxiety and nervousness
- Depression
- Feeling tense and restless
Most of these symptoms are unpleasant and cause significant stress throughout the kratom withdrawal timeline during detox. But kratom withdrawal is rarely dangerous. Still, kratom addiction and withdrawal can be dangerous when a person has a severe addiction, as highlighted in this case study published by the peer-reviewed medical journal Cureus.
In the above-mentioned case study, a patient took 5 to 6 tablespoons of kratom per day. The patient’s psychiatric history of depression and the severity of her addiction lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Are Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms Dangerous?
Kratom withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous—especially in cases of severe addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. In addition, when a person doesn’t seek professional help during detox, they are more likely to have dangerous symptoms. These symptoms mimic withdrawal symptoms associated with opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl.
Dangerous symptoms of kratom withdrawal include:
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Rapid heart rate
- Intense cravings
- Suicidal ideation
A person is also more likely to overdose when they don’t seek help for kratom withdrawal. This is because they cave in to intense cravings without a barrier to accessing kratom or other drugs. If the person has stopped using kratom for a few days, they might use more than their usual dose to compensate—putting them at a high risk of overdose.
Treatment professionals can help clients go through the withdrawal timeline safely. After that, they can continue with inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment.
What is the Kratom Withdrawal Timeline?
Although the timeline for withdrawal can vary from person to person, clients can expect similar experiences during kratom detox:
- Day One: Kratom withdrawal symptoms begin within the first 6-12 hours after a person stops using. Clients will have mild withdrawal symptoms at this time.
- Day Two: Withdrawal symptoms continue to worsen. Some clients will have flu-like symptoms, like fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. They could also begin feeling irritability and general discomfort.
- Day Three: Around the third day, kratom withdrawal symptoms peak. This will be the most difficult day of detox for most people. It is important to keep in mind that after symptoms peak, they will subside and then the worst is over.
- Days Following Peak Symptoms: After symptoms peak, clients will start to feel better as their brain regains normal functioning without kratom. However, while physical symptoms go away, mental health symptoms can linger beyond the usual kratom withdrawal timeline. That is why it is important to continue treatment after detox.
Most people will go through kratom withdrawal in about a week. Others could have post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), where their symptoms continue longer than expected. Either way, now that clients have safely detoxed, they are ready to engage in continuing treatment.
How is Kratom Addiction Treated?
Kratom addiction is treated with a comprehensive plan that may include therapy, holistic approaches, peer support, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). For severe kratom addiction, MAT programs could be the best treatment, as it combines medications with therapy. Kratom addiction treatment also involves progressing through varying levels of care where a person gains more independence as they lessen their need for professional support.
Detox programs can connect clients to the resources they need for aftercare. Most clients begin with residential treatment or inpatient rehab and then move onto outpatient programs, like partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient. Furthermore, peer support programs, like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or SMART Recovery, help many people overcome addiction.
Get Help for Kratom Addiction in Atlanta, GA
Kratom addiction can lead to poor long-term health outcomes including medical issues and mental health conditions. Without getting help during the kratom withdrawal timeline, many people relapse to avoid unpleasant symptoms. However, professional detox programs can help clients safely manage withdrawal symptoms and begin long-term addiction treatment.
Contact Detox ATL today to begin treatment for kratom addiction.