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Quitting kratom is rarely as simple as just stopping. If you have built up a daily habit, your body has adjusted to having it, and letting go can bring days or weeks of real discomfort.
Maybe you started using kratom for pain, for anxiety, or to wean yourself off something stronger, and now it has become its own problem to manage. The good news is you do not have to push through it alone.
A medication called buprenorphine/naloxone, sold under the brand names Suboxone and Zubsolv, is one option some healthcare providers consider for kratom withdrawal, though the science behind it is still catching up to the real-world need.
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Understanding what this treatment can and cannot do, and where it fits alongside other options, is the first step toward making a choice that is right for you.
Kratom dependence can develop one dose at a time. Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree called Mitragyna speciosa that grows in Southeast Asia, and people often use it as a home remedy for pain, low mood, or opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Two important kratom compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), act on some of the same opioid receptors as drugs such as morphine and heroin. Traditional kratom leaf contains only small amounts of 7-OH, but some newer products contain concentrated or added 7-OH and may have much stronger opioidlike effects.
Kratom’s effects can feel rewarding. Using it regularly can lead to chronic use and, over time, physical dependence, meaning your body needs kratom just to feel normal. In one study, people who used kratom for more than six months reported withdrawal symptoms similar to those from opioid use.
Where Buprenorphine/Naloxone Fits InBuprenorphine/naloxone is FDA-approved to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) as part of a complete treatment plan. Using it specifically for kratom withdrawal or kratom use disorder is considered off-label.
Buprenorphine is thought to help mainly by partly activating opioid receptors, which can reduce opioidlike withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Because it also binds very strongly to these receptors, it may limit the effects of other opioidlike substances, but researchers have not fully worked out how this applies to kratom.
Naloxone, the second ingredient, blocks opioid effects and is added mainly to discourage people from injecting the medication. Clinicians who prescribe it for kratom withdrawal are using it off-label, meaning regulators have not specifically approved the drug for this purpose.
If you started using kratom to manage opioid withdrawal in the first place, it’s worth understanding how that choice can complicate treatment decisions down the road.
Comparing Buprenorphine/Naloxone With Other ApproachesBuprenorphine/naloxone is not the only treatment that has been tried for kratom withdrawal. Case reports also describe methadone, clonidine, and naltrexone, but these medicines work in different ways and are not interchangeable.
Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors and can cause sudden, severe withdrawal if it is started while someone is still physically dependent on kratom, 7-OH, or another opioidlike substance.
Because there is no agreed-upon protocol, the option a doctor reaches for often depends on their own experience, along with your medical history and any other substances you are using.
Kratom withdrawal is thought to work much like opioid withdrawal, so some of the same nonmedication comfort measures may apply, such as staying well hydrated to help replace fluids lost through symptoms like sweating and diarrhea.
Starting buprenorphine/naloxone is not risk-free, even though it’s a well-studied medication for opioid use disorder. Because it is an opioid-based medication itself, long-term use can cause your brain and body to depend on it too, even when it is taken exactly as prescribed.
Buprenorphine/naloxone comes with its own set of possible side effects, most of which do not require medical attention but are worth knowing about:
Buprenorphine can also cause a sudden worsening of withdrawal, called precipitated withdrawal, if it is started while too much opioidlike activity is still present in the body. This is one reason the timing of the first dose should be decided with a clinician.
Stopping the medication abruptly can bring on its own withdrawal, so if you and your care team ever decide to stop, the dose is usually lowered gradually instead of all at once.
Taking it alongside other substances that cause drowsiness, like benzodiazepines, other opioids, or alcohol, can cause serious breathing problems. It’s important your care team knows about everything else you take.
Your healthcare provider may also recommend that you or someone close to you have naloxone, a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. This can be especially important if there is a chance of returning to opioid use or being exposed to an unexpected opioid.
This medication should only be started and adjusted under medical supervision, never on your own.
You don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable to ask for help. Reach out to a healthcare provider if your withdrawal symptoms are severe, if you have other health conditions, or if you are using other substances alongside kratom, since these situations may require closer medical attention.
It’s also worth getting evaluated if you have tried to quit kratom on your own before but returned to using it, as this may be a sign that you need additional support to quit. An addiction medicine specialist can help you understand the difference between dependence and addiction, and figure out which treatment path fits your situation.
From there, a specialist can weigh whether supportive care, buprenorphine/naloxone, or another approach makes the most sense for you, and can watch for complications a self-managed detox might miss. Recovery from kratom dependence is possible, and getting professional support early tends to make the process safer and less lonely.
On MyOpioidRecoveryTeam, people share their experiences with kratom use, kratom withdrawal, and recovery from opioid use disorder, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Have you tried buprenorphine/naloxone or another approach to manage kratom withdrawal? Let others know in the comments below.
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Kratom, used for recovery from Suboxone was what I was investigating. From what I've read it sounds like switching seats on the Titanic! No thank you.
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