I know that kratom isn't that physically addictive, but in my case I am so psychologically and mentally addicted to it that I cannot taper it. I've tried many times, it just doesn't work, I crave the drug and the buzz too much. If I quit I get extreme depression, anhedonia, anxiety and end up relapsing as a result. I actually prefer certain high quality red strains of kratom to any opiates that I have. tried before, except for heroin. Would it be a good idea to use suboxone to counter the cravings for it so that I can quit the kratom? I'm thinking that suboxone might also take care of most of the mental withdrawal symptoms like the depression and anhedonia. And then just slowly taper the suboxone over time.
I would say no, from experience. I was put on suboxone to get me off oxycodone. During my first week on suboxone I researched it, and freaked out. I read enough horror stories about withdrawals reported by doctors, patients, patients significant others, and nurses that I went back to the clinic and informed them that I quit.
A year later I was shooting heroin again. I called a rehab. I was told I had to wait 24 hours after my last opiate usage, then I would get my first dose of suboxone. They tapered me off of suboxone in five days....that's right...for five days was all I took it. That was September 2009. My problem was chronic, intense pain in my neck, lower back, and my legs down to about my knees, all from an injury in the early 70's. Out of rehab I met with an acquaintance, who immediately became my dealer...for oxycodone. He had a prescription for an unbelievable amount of oxy30's, so he sold them really cheap. Eventually I went to a "pain management doctor", who put me on a high dosage of fentanyl. Several years passed and I wanted my freedom back. It took 4 months to wean off of all opiates, but I did it with the help of a sympathetic doctor. The last fentanyl patch came off February 1st, 2018.
Now here's what I don't understand. I used kratom almost daily for a year after that. I took the capsules so I could keep track of my usage. I never got a buzz from kratom, possibly because I used it for pain. After a year, I just quit. No withdrawal feelings at all. Today I use cannabis, thc and cbd, in it's various forms to combat pain.
But I would never want to take suboxone for an extended period of time. That drug scares me as much as my nemesis, heroin. But that's me.
My only suggestion is to research what is said about suboxone. Not just what doctors say, but look on the internet. I read positive and negative comments, but the negative comments far outweighed the positive, both in numbers, and especially in content.
Good luck. Good luck on this decision, and good luck in the future.
Peace
