A lot of drugs can cause dependence and addiction. When you want to stop taking these drugs, you have to get professional treatment. Quitting kratom is no different. First, it’s important to know what to expect.
About Kratom
Not everyone fully understands kratom and how it works. This tropical evergreen tree is in the coffee family and native to several South Asian nations.
For thousands of years, people have used the leaves and their extracts for their sedative and stimulant effects. They brew the leaves in tea and smoke or chew them, and the substance is also available in pill form. Some people may call it biak-biak, red or white vein, mambog, ketum, thang, thom and herbal speedball.
As a drug, people report that kratom can treat digestive problems, chronic pain, and opium withdrawal symptoms. Its primary active ingredient is mitragynine, which the body breaks down into 7-hydroxymitragynine. Both chemicals act on opioid receptors in the brain, which stimulates the release of dopamine. Although they may not bind to receptors like heroin does, they produce pain relief and euphoria.
Kratom Side Effects
However, there aren’t enough clinical trials to understand the benefits of kratom. It isn’t approved for medical use either. Additionally, kratom can cause dry mouth, increased urination, loss of appetite, constipation, skin darkening, and insomnia. Some of its more serious side effects include:
- Cardiac arrest
- Coma
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Liver disease
- Seizures
Why Quitting Kratom Requires Treatment
Since kratom binds to opioid receptors in the brain, it can cause mental and physical dependence. If you develop either or both of these disorders, then you’ll experience withdrawal when you stop using. A multitude of symptoms can occur, including diarrhea, anxiety, restlessness, muscle aches, cravings, tremors, and sweating.
When quitting kratom, it’s essential that you seek a medical detox program to avoid potential complications from these symptoms. Getting help also ensures that you don’t relapse during the withdrawal process. If you take too much during a relapse, you could need poison control to recover.
Kratom Detox Process
The process for kratom detox follows the same general steps as a detox for other substances. Your detox center will evaluate your condition to prepare the appropriate treatment plan. Then, the staff will stabilize your symptoms as you go through withdrawal. Medications can reduce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other issues.
Finally, your detox facility will introduce you to therapy, which you’ll continue during rehab. For example, it could use cognitive behavioral therapy in individual, group or family sessions. Meditation therapy and other holistic approaches can be helpful throughout the entire detox process as well.
Get Help to Detox From Kratom
Are you looking for a kratom addiction treatment program? You can get treatment at Serenity House Detox & Recovery in Florida. We also offer many other substance use treatment programs for men and women, including:
Don’t mistake kratom for a safe herbal remedy. Serenity House Detox & Recovery knows that quitting kratom use may be difficult. Call us at 866-294-5306 to learn more about how we can help you through detox.
