Kratom Detox: Timelines, Tips & How to Safely Detox

Kratom detoxification (or detox) involves quitting kratom use and allowing your body to return to its natural state. Detox is a crucial part of your recovery, but it’s not always easy to complete. 

Kratom’s withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable, and they can persist for weeks or even months. Some symptoms (like cravings) might never completely go away.

While it’s possible to move through detox independently, medical treatment reduces your discomfort and increases your potential for success. Medications and medical management can ensure you get sober safely and maintain that sobriety long term. With the right help, you can stop using kratom and other substances of abuse.

Do You Have a Kratom Problem?

Detox is crucial for people with a physical dependence on kratom. If you feel sick, uncomfortable, or desperate for drugs between your kratom doses, you need to consider detox. 

A detox program allows your brain cells to heal and function properly without a constant infusion of kratom. If you’ve used the drug for a long time or repeatedly taken very high doses, detox is difficult and important.  

How Long Does Kratom Withdrawal Take?

Experts say kratom withdrawal is similar to opioid withdrawal. People often feel ill quickly, with symptoms that peak within about a week and remain for long periods. 

A typical kratom withdrawal timeline looks like this:

• Between 12 and 24 hours: Symptoms begin and grow stronger by the hour.
• Within a week: Symptoms peak in intensity and then begin to lessen.
• Within a month: Physical symptoms fade, but drug cravings remain. 

How long withdrawal takes and how uncomfortable it is depends on how long you’ve used kratom and how much you took every day. But almost all long-term daily users can expect some type of withdrawal when they try to quit using kratom.

Is Kratom Detox Dangerous?

Some kratom withdrawal symptoms (like vomiting or diarrhea) can lead to organ-damaging dehydration. And mental health symptoms like depression can lead to poor choices. It’s always best to get help with kratom detox. But continued use is even more dangerous.

Researchers say kratom’s problems worsen at higher doses. Using more than 8 g at a time can lead to toxic problems, and some people have died due to their drug use. While detox comes with risks, they aren’t more significant than those you’d face if you kept abusing kratom. These risks can be mitigated with medical supervision and support.

Symptoms of Kratom Withdrawal

During opioid withdrawal, people experience the same symptoms felt by those who abuse opioids.

Those symptoms include the following:

• Anxiety 
• Body aches
• Chills 
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Irritability 
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Runny nose
• Vomiting

Why Is Detox Necessary?

Detoxification is the transition between active drug use and sobriety. If you don’t move through detox, you’re continuing to use drugs.

While detox is uncomfortable, it’s an important part of your recovery process. 

Tips to Help You Detox From Kratom

While kratom detox is natural, it’s uncomfortable and can worsen with time. These tips can help:

• Find support. Don’t progress through the withdrawal process alone. Your mental health can deteriorate, and you could find it hard to separate what is real and what is not. Don’t spend time alone during this process. 
• Focus on hydration. Drink plenty of fluids, and if you can’t keep anything down, ask a medical team for treatment with IV fluids. Dehydration can worsen the process.
• Stay calm. Focus on your reasons for getting sober. Breathe through the discomfort. Remind yourself that this is temporary.
• Keep your environment soothing. Turn down the lights, turn off the radio, swaddle your body in blankets, and stay comfortable. 

How to Detox From Kratom

Many people move through detox every day. It can be uncomfortable, but it’s possible. Three primary options exist for your treatment:

DIY Detox

Some people try going through kratom detox at home with over-the-counter medications and help from friends. While this is the easiest detox to start, it’s not always successful.

Experts say kratom cravings persist, and a DIY detox won’t help you cope with them. You may get sober, but you may not be able to retain it. Relapse is much more likely with DIY detox methods.

Detox Center

A detox center specializes in helping people to get sober. People enroll in these short-term programs to help them stop taking drugs for the first time. They may be intoxicated when they start, but they’re sober when they stop. Medications can keep you comfortable during this process. 

A detox center makes kratom withdrawal easier, but these programs aren’t meant to help you learn how to stay sober for the long term. Additional treatment is needed following detox.

A Comprehensive Treatment Facility 

A full-service treatment facility can help you move through detox and deeper into recovery. These programs can use medications like buprenorphine over the long term to help you deal with drug cravings and stay sober for longer periods. 

During and after detox, you’ll participate in therapy sessions to identify and address issues that led to your initial substance abuse. You’ll gain skills that help you to manage cravings and triggers, so you don’t return to kratom abuse.

What to Look for in Kratom Treatment 

Many kratom treatment facilities exist, and they can help you achieve long-term recovery. Experts say longer periods spent in treatment translate to a better chance of a persistent recovery. 

When you’re examining kratom treatment options, consider the following aspects:

• Your insurance: Does your policy cover the treatment plan?
• Their experience: Has this program treated people for kratom addiction before?
• Their success: Have they helped people like you in the past?
• Their approach: Will they use medications to help you feel better? What therapeutic approaches are used?

Asking questions can help you ensure you make a smart choice for your recovery.