Can I Use Kratom to Detox Off Opioids?

Dr Peter Coleman, who is Board-certified in Addiction Medicine and in long-term recovery himself, discusses whether kratom might be a good way to detox off of opiates.

-Safe, Comfortable Outpatient Detox
The Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine has been a leading outpatient addiction treatment center since 1998. Our innovative withdrawal management programs, often referred to as The Coleman Method, have helped thousands of people free themselves from addiction to Alcohol, Opioids, and Benzodiazepines. Originally founded in Richmond, Virginia, our network has expanded to cover 14 cities across the US.
-3 - 8 Day Opioid Detoxification Process
For short-acting opiates like oxycodone, most patients complete their detox and begin Naltrexone therapy within 5 days. Longer-acting opiates like Suboxone and Methadone typically take 8 days. Our standard opioid treatment package in Richmond, VA and Wellesley, MA includes the detox and 6 months of case management and Naltrexone therapy. As a non-addictive opioid blocker, Naltrexone dramatically reduces cravings so that patients can focus on their recovery. We have a 98% success rate for completing detoxification and starting Naltrexone therapy. During the detox, we work with patients and their families to develop an appropriate aftercare plan. We also offer a convenient, 3-day outpatient alcohol detox and a Rapid Benzodiazepine Detox.
-Caring, Empathetic Environment
Dr. Peter Coleman understands first-hand the challenges our patients are facing due to his own personal struggle with the disease of addiction. He has been in long term recovery since 1984. Dr. Coleman has dedicated his career to treating addiction patients and creating a team and an environment conducive to long term recovery for his patients.

[annaeembinannahari]

The reason why Kratom is not recommended is because pharmaceutical companies who created methadone suboxone will lose money to a natural herb.

[nkn_]

I've detoxed off a few things. Kratom is by far the mildest.

[marknunya]

LOL, This dude says get off Kratom with Suboxone or methadone… Clearly he has never taken any of the three himself!

[glenbellefonte]

Who's paying you to say kratom is horrible? This reminds me of the marijuana flicks of the 1930s. You are lying.

[TheScott]

You suggesting suboxone over kratom is just ridiculous

[TheGr-]

Absolutely a better alternative than other narcotics. And the withdrawal from kratom is no where near as severe as an opiate withdrawal.

[brownrusselredeemedbyblood]

Kratom saves lives, it is legal, natural, and not like drugs, it’s a natural medicine, for people dying of self medicating.

[bgangler]

Shit dope for 16 years and got off methadone after ten. Tapered down to 5 mgs then to zero. At day 4 of feeling shitty, I tried kratom and it worked amazingly. Took it for almost 3 weeks and haven’t felt any withdrawals since that day 4. Red Vein Maeng Da. That shit will help u kick 100%.

[wesnorm]

I taken it for 6 years and went days at a time without never had any kind of withdrawal

[courtneypitts]

Can't the same thing be said for when you say you're just switching one drug for another?

[Malchus]

Kratom withdrawals has been way easier to handle than my new suboxone withdrawals. Wish I never got on suboxone for my kratom use.

[codyjohnson]

Kratom is the easiest detox and here's why, if you are manually making your own capsules you will reach a point where you find the amount that takes the withdrawal away, and that will be a lot of capsules that you will be putting together maybe twenty or thirty a day or twice a day at first, but you're not getting a buzz off of it so what's the reason for making so many? Eventually you will start saving time and be tired of putting so many together and you will only take twenty one day and then the next day you'll only do 15 and then 10 and so on. My scale is not right but that's how it works you will get tired of putting together all of these capsules every day so you will start taking less on your own and get yourself off of it completely

[cmolaskeyj]

Methadone and suboxone clearly have a more powerful lobby. Also there's no way he is detoxing people off just kratom

[DFRM]

He says this type of shut but faults to mention that it’ll be the same way for suboxone … the shit they’d give you to get off opioids … suboxone has an actual high and people get addicted to that more … depending on how long you been doing opioid … bro you take the kratom for a week … that way mostly if not all of the withdraws that are painful are gone and all the other small effects like maybe a fog feeling, sneezing and slight more cold than usual will be around but guess what ?? Those are more than bearable to deal with … now if you were in fentanyl which is very strong you probably wanna take em for 2 weeks to a month because even though the withdraws that are painful will be gone the other effects will still be in high form and will annoy you so bad you won’t be able to do anything … take it slow measure your body .. if you take Kratom and been taking it for a week one day after you hit 7 days you need to wait about 24 hours or however long it takes to wear off out of your. Body and see how you feel … if you don’t like the way you feel after 48 hours go and take kratom for one more week and try it out again…. Those who wanna be off and not dependent on anything would follow those steps because once I’ve got over the withdraw stage I’m not looking to keep taking anything … even if I still have slight very slight chills and sneezing … I’ll deal w it .. slot of those symptoms last longer than others depending on the drug and how long you used it … so please for the people wanting to get off … if you been on drugs for years w out stopping once so not expect just because the painful part of withdrawals are gone that the symptoms of not feeling like yourself sre still lingering around …. Remind yourself the high is never worth the low and that you did them for “X amount of time. “ it’ll take time getting used to being sober and to feel like yourself once again but it’s around the corner just take it a day at a time

[Revolutionized]

I really didn't expect you to guide people any differently other than coming to your clinic and surrender to your medical system.

[daniellebetz]

Kratom is nothing like heroin. The rehab industry is out biggest opposition in the fight to keep Kratom legal. Harm reduction is a good thing and most of the people in the rehab industry only care about keeping their money coming in and they know Kratom is a major threat to that. If you truly cared about the patients in rehabilitation, you would not be against something that is so beneficial. I tried to paste the letter to the comments my Mother wrote regarding my recovery from opioids, but for some reason I cannot. Kratom is nothing at all like heroin and the majority of people who DID come off opioids and other drugs and then suddenly stop Kratom too soon experience PAWS from their drug use prior to Kratom. For the first 2 years after I stopped my 16 years opioid use, I would go into withdrawals. They were not fun. Right at the 20 month mark, I abruptly stopped Kratom due to a family emergency and I had already started to notice that I was going longer in between Kratom servings during the day and it was getting easier, although I was still consuming quite a bit daily. The day I stopped suddenly, I was 100 percent fine. Absolutely fine. I stopped cold turkey and decided to just not consume any Kratom for a few weeks. I did start again when my family confronted me about how crabby I was getting because all my ailments pain wise were resurfacing. I have stage 4 endometriosis & EDS and am in pain almost 100% of the time. It makes me grouchy. I was in pain management for a good reason. I am so grateful I am out of pain management and that I never had to go on suboxone treatment. I have seen first hand how severe and long the withdrawal from that is. More than once. And I am NOT against suboxone or methadone if it's helping someone. Because harm reduction is always a good thing. Please do actual research, sir. Please, please listen to the scientists who have studied Kratom for years, sometimes for decades and do not believe banning Kratom will do anything other than cause a much, much worse opioid crisis. Kratom acts on 2 opioid receptors, but is not an opioid. Kratom DOES NOT cause respiratory depression. People who are poly drug users w

[serious-cyrusnoelan]

If your gonna’ successfully back up Kratom:

Saying ‘it’s herbal/natural isn’t the best starting point for the argument I.m.o. (Coming from someone who also sees it’s beneficial purpose). Opium is natural, unrefined and extremely addictive. Saying it’s non addictive cause it’s natural/organic is like saying it’s not addictive cause it’s green… Really no argument their.

[Terriloo]

Of course he says to get off Kratom with suboxone or methadone because he's a doctor it's all about money they don't want you to take Kratom Kratom is not like heroin or prescription opiates at all I've researched it a lot

[alwaysdigginbro]

I use to smoke raw opium everyday, my last long stop was 8 month ago. Now i lower the dose at 0.15/0.10mg day which is quite low. I would stop but i still cant skip one day. I fear withdrawals and craving. Start kratom can help me quit with less withdrawal and pain?

[dude]

Wait, if you only take the Kratom for 7 dats whilst detoxing do you develop an addictive to it also?