Kratom is an herbal extract that has been used for opioid withdrawal management. The risks of opioid withdrawal can be severe, and lead to some impacts on health and overall wellness. Managing these withdrawal symptoms can help someone who is trying to end opioid abuse to begin living a fulfilling and productive life without using drugs. Being able to safely and comfortably detox can be a catalyst for beginning a life in recovery.
What is Opioid Withdrawal?
Opioid withdrawal is a condition that occurs due to opioid abuse. Opioids are a class of drugs including prescription painkillers, and illicit drugs such as heroin that can bind to the opioid receptors in the brain and change the perception of pain and pleasure in the body. When someone abuses these drugs for a period of time, the body becomes tolerant to the drug. This results in needing more and more in order to receive the desired effects of the drugs.
Moreover, this can then result in dependence and addiction as the brain and body become accustomed to feeling the effects of the drugs and can begin to have a hard time functioning without it. The risks of opioid withdrawal can be life-threatening. Therefore, having professional medical supervision is highly suggested for those who need help.
How Does Kratom Help With Opioid Abuse and Withdrawal?
The short answer is that while kratom is a natural substance that is produced from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, native to Southeast Asia, it can lead to further health risks. Those native to the area where it is produced use Kratom as a stimulant, sedative, or for pain relief.
There are a number of compounds in kratom that are psychoactive and can lead to dependence. This means that using kratom for opioid withdrawal is not ideal. In some cases, kratom worsens opioid withdrawal if people get addicted to or dependent on kratom. Some effects are fatal and create long-term health issues like organ damage. While using it to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms can seem as though the symptoms are being alleviated. Hence, using kratom is almost like replacing one drug with another.
How Does Opioid Withdrawal Occur?
Opioid withdrawal occurs when the body becomes dependent, or addicted to opioids like substances like oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl and other opioid drugs that bind to the opioid receptors in the brain. People often abuse these drugs due to the euphoric feeling that occurs as a result of using them. The risks of opioid withdrawal can cause severe uncomfortability in daily life, and sometimes those who are trying to end drug abuse end up going back to using the drugs due to the symptoms withdrawal can cause.
Signs of Opioid Withdrawal
The signs of opioid withdrawal can be rather obvious. A person may be exhibiting signs like not being able to sleep, eat, or sit still. It may look like they are crawling in their skin. There may be noticeable mood changes, they are probably very irritable, and experiencing depression and anxiety. Signs of opioid withdrawal also include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Someone could also experience muscle and joint aches and pains, restlessness, sweating and shakiness. The physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and oftentimes lead someone back to using the very thing that causes the withdrawal symptoms to begin with. The risks of opioid withdrawal include dehydration as a result of vomiting and diarrhea.
When the body becomes dehydrated and there are not enough fluids being taken in, the body becomes weak and it can lead to complications. There are also changes in heart rate and blood pressure that can occur, and this can lead to other health complications. The symptoms of opioid withdrawal are best managed and comforted when someone undergoes the process with medical supervision. This helps the uncomfortable and sometimes life-threatening symptoms get addressed and alleviated.
Treatment for Opioid Withdrawal and Detox
Using opioids long-term can lead to addiction. The risks of opioid withdrawal are life-threatening and can be severe as well as hard to overcome without proper care. Using kratom for opioid withdrawal is not recommended, as kratom has its own set of addictive properties. Receiving proper treatment for opioid use disorder is highly suggested as it is a difficult process to endure. Treatment can be beneficial to not returning to the drugs that caused the damage.
It can also create a foundation for a person to be able to begin recovery from addiction to the substance. Removing the drugs from the system is the first step to recovering from opioid addiction, and doing so with professional care, while comfortable and safe is the best thing that someone can do for themselves.
Getting Help for Opioid Abuse
Opioid abuse and addiction can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not readily available. These symptoms can make it hard to stop using the opioids, leading to further consequences. If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid addiction, Brentwood Springs can help. Our on staff team of professionals can help those struggling to undergo opioid withdrawal safely and comfortably. We strive to provide a healing environment to overcome addiction.
Call us today and begin a journey of recovery.
