Kratom is a highly versatile herb with numerous benefits. So, it may come as a surprise that someone may be looking into quitting kratom. It may even alarm you as some of the top results on search engines will come from drug rehab centers or similar sources claiming that kratom is a dangerous drug.
Rest assured that, in most cases, there is nothing to worry about. Let’s dive deeper and find out why.
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How Do People Get Here?
Kratom can relieve severe pain from a wide variety of ailments, ease stress and anxiety, improve depression symptoms, and aid sleep. It can also boost energy and productivity and well as enhance mood and focus. Some of the lesser-known kratom benefits include a better immune system and sex life, as well as the possibility of improved diabetes symptoms and better heart health.
So, why would one possibly want to quit kratom?
Well, there are a few reasons for that. Keep in mind that many of those who quit kratom do so temporarily. In fact, if you plan to take kratom long-term, it is actually recommended to quit kratom and take breaks from it regularly.
Kratom Tolerance
The most common reason for quitting kratom is tolerance buildup. Kratom intake during an extended period of time can result in tolerance. In simple terms, kratom alkaloids build up in your system, and your body gets used to them. As a result, the dose you initially took no longer yields the effects it used to.
While some sources make it sound worse than it is, tolerance isn’t something that is exclusive to kratom.
Regular intake of coffee, which is a close relative of kratom, can also lead to tolerance buildup. And, in the case of certain food sensitivities or allergies, tolerance can be built up over time with controlled exposure to the substance. For instance, if one is lactose intolerant, regularly taking small amounts of milk can build up their tolerance to lactose over time, eliminating the unpleasant food sensitivity.
Keep in mind that this is a blog about kratom, so if you suffer from food allergies or sensitivities, make sure to consult with a doctor. In more severe cases, exposing yourself to allergens can be dangerous.
Kratom tolerance can be unpleasant as you experience that kratom is no longer working, that you keep upping your kratom dosage, or that you’re burning through kratom supplies and money.
So, quitting kratom for some time can help your body reset. As a result, you should be able to go back to your initial dosage.
Travel or Similar Reasons
Another instance of needing to resort to quitting kratom is travel. Unfortunately, kratom isn’t legal everywhere. So, if you have pending travel plans and can’t take kratom with you, quitting kratom and making any necessary adjustments prior to that can make the experience less taxing on your body and emotional well-being.
Quitting Kratom to Prevent Tolerance
It’s also common among experienced kratom users to quit kratom regularly to keep their tolerance in check. This allows their bodies to fully eliminate alkaloids on a regular basis. This way, they are able to maintain their regular dosage and kratom spending while experiencing the same effects.
Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms
If you are considering quitting kratom for one reason or another, you may experience kratom withdrawal, especially if you have not been careful about your dosage, such as roughly measuring kratom with a spoon rather than using a sensitive digital scale. You may have developed kratom tolerance without being aware of it.
You may also experience withdrawal symptoms if you have been consistently increasing your doses or if you already know that you have developed tolerance.
The most common kratom withdrawal symptoms are:
- digestive issues
- runny nose
- irritability
- agitation
- restless limbs,
- sleep issues
The severity and combination of symptoms can vary. Some people with higher tolerance may have a harder time, while others may only have a runny nose or feel slightly irritable. There are also people who do not experience withdrawal at all.
However, one thing that many in the kratom community agree on is that kratom withdrawal is nowhere near as severe as opioid withdrawal.
3 Approaches to Quitting Kratom
If you’ve decided to quit kratom, there are a few ways in which you can do it:
- Quitting kratom cold turkey is the roughest and quickest of the methods. This means that you will abruptly stop kratom intake. If you have already developed tolerance, your withdrawal symptoms may be rather intense for approximately one to two weeks.
- Gradually tapering off to zero will be the easiest transition; you are likely not going to experience any withdrawal symptoms at all. The essence of this method is gradually reducing your kratom doses until you no longer take any. It may take around one or two months. However, if you have stopped feeling kratom effects, this may be a challenging approach.
- Tapering off slightly and quitting is a mix between the two. You would gradually reduce your dose until quitting cold turkey feels alright to you. With this approach, you are likely to experience some withdrawal symptoms, though they won’t be as severe as they could have been if you were quitting kratom cold turkey.
Objectively assess how severe your tolerance is and how willing you are to be going through an uncomfortable period.
Tips When Quitting Kratom
1. Stay Hydrated
Make sure to hydrate yourself properly. It will help your system flush out the alkaloids. Proper hydration can also make you feel better overall, reducing, for instance, headaches. If you take kratom for energy and decide to up your coffee intake instead, drink an extra cup of water for each coffee cup you take.
2. Consider Reducing or Quitting Dairy Intake
Kratom constipation is rather common. So, if you are quitting kratom and it no longer constipates you…. this means…. hello, diarrhea! So, you may need to go easy on dairy, such as yogurt or milk, or quit it altogether until you feel a bit more balanced. Dairy tends to be a diuretic, so, consider using non-dairy alternatives such as oat or almond milk instead.
3. Maintain a Healthy and Balanced Diet
Even though you may not feel your best, nourish your body properly to help your body recover as well as to keep your immune system strong. Eat a diet that is rich in protein and complex carbs, as well as has plenty of fiber and probiotics.
4. Take Supplements or Medication if Necessary
When you quit kratom or start tapering off, you’re likely to experience the issues that kratom used to relieve. Therefore, go back to reviewing why you take kratom and consider looking into medication and supplements that can serve as kratom alternatives. Stock up in advance to avoid any unpleasant situations.
In addition to that, consider sleeping aids, such as melatonin or soothing herbal products like valerian root, as well as means of managing stress, anxiety, or mood. It is common to experience sleep issues and agitation when quitting kratom. So, it can be beneficial to prepare for that in advance.
5. Use Relaxation Techniques
Agitation and irritation are common when quitting kratom. So, if you feel like that can interact with your daily life, look into means of supporting you through that. Medication can provide relief, but if you’d like to try alternative methods such as meditation, yoga, or similar.
Regular exercise ensures proper blood flow that properly supplies the brain and other vital organs with oxygen and nutrients. Additionally, exercise releases endorphins, which can boost mood and emotional well-being.
Staying active, such as exercising, can also be beneficial.
6. Get Distracted
If you are going through a rough time adjusting to how you feel after quitting kratom, staying mentally engaged can help you take your mind off of how you are feeling. Therefore, consider working on your hobbies or projects that bring you joy.
7. Seek Support
Before quitting kratom, it can be beneficial for you to talk to your friends and loved ones and inform them about your decisions. This can help them understand what’s going on with you, provide support, and hold you accountable if things get tough.
Many people with underlying depression report feeling worse than quitting kratom. Having a support group can assist you if you experience that, as well.
8. Stay Away from Alcohol
There are many downsides to consuming alcohol. Therefore, during a time when you may already feel in pain, irritated, and agitated, it may be best to stay away from alcohol, especially if you suffer from depression.
How to Avoid Kratom Tolerance
If quitting kratom isn’t something that you would like to do, focus on keeping your tolerance low. This would involve ensuring that your dosage is right and precise each time you take kratom.
Since a lot of kratom products on the market tend to fluctuate in quality, find a trusted vendor who consistently delivers quality kratom products. This will ensure that you can get the effects you want without needing to increase your kratom dose.
Buying from cheaper vendors frequently results in you getting kratom that is weaker than the previous batch. If you increase your dose yet feel the same effects that you would with a smaller dose, you’re still taking in a much larger dose of alkaloids. Even though those may be weak, they still accumulate in your system.
In addition to that, rotate kratom strains and regularly take days off when you allow your body to reset from kratom.
Are you considering quitting kratom? Why? And how do you plan to do it? If you have quit kratom before, let us know what has worked best for you.
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