Suboxone is used to treat opioid addiction, and it works because it contains a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine acts as a partial opioid agonist, meaning that it acts similarly to other opioid drugs and can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Naloxone increases the benefits of Suboxone by discouraging people from misusing the medication. While Suboxone is used to treat addiction to opioid drugs like heroin or oxycodone, some people may think they can use this medication to treat addiction to kratom. Others may believe that it is safe to mix kratom and Suboxone. Below, learn all about Suboxone and kratom, including whether it is safe to combine these two substances.
What Is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a prescription drug used in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. It contains a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, and it helps people to stay engaged in addiction treatment by reducing cravings and withdrawal side effects. Ideally, people also participate in counseling while taking Suboxone.
Suboxone comes in a film that is dissolved either under the tongue or between the cheek and gums. Treatment with Suboxone begins with an induction phase, during which a doctor stabilizes patients on a suitable dose of the medication. This phase lasts for about a week, and a doctor may prescribe other medications that also treat withdrawal symptoms.
After the induction phase, a patient moves toward maintenance treatment. They will take Suboxone every day, sometimes for months or even years, to help them stay in recovery.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom comes from a tree that grows in Southeast Asia, and people may misuse its leaves or derivatives in order to relax or feel “high.” Interestingly, the drug has both stimulant and opioid-like effects. The stimulant effects of kratom result in increased energy, feelings of alertness, and rapid heart rate, whereas the opioid effects can relieve pain and create a feeling of relaxation.
People use kratom by swallowing capsules or powders that contain plant matter, or by taking a liquid extract, brewing leaves into tea, or mixing kratom powder with food or drinks.
In Southeast Asia, kratom has been used for hundreds of years as a medicinal plant, but it can come with negative side effects, which vary in severity depending upon how strong of a dose of kratom a person takes. For instance, some people have only mild side effects, such as nausea, constipation, dizziness, and feelings of drowsiness. Others may have more severe reactions, including high blood pressure, seizures, tremors, confusion, and slowed breathing.
How Does Kratom Work For Opioid Withdrawals?
People who are interested in kratom and Suboxone may ask, “Does kratom help with withdrawal?” since kratom produces opioid-like effects. According to scientists, kratom does act as a partial opioid agonist, and its effects are similar to morphine. This is because kratom contains two compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which have opioid-like effects. In fact, 7-hydroxymitragynine is believed to be even stronger than morphine.
Since kratom has opioid effects, people may take kratom to manage withdrawal symptoms. Theoretically, kratom could work for opioid withdrawal because of its chemical properties, and people may use it for this purpose, but it is not approved as a medication.
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