Kratom: Rapid Onset Acute Withdrawal w./ "Brain Zaps"?

[msFancyPants]

A couple months ago I switched from Methadone Maintenance to Kratom, and in the last couple weeks have been (very slowly) tapering down the Kratom so that I don't build a hella tolerance to it (Medicaid doesn't pay for kratom!). While I was having excellent results (little to no physical withdrawal, anxiolytic and antidepressant results, and no urges to go back to "harder" opioids) in the last couple days I have been experiencing a very rapid onset W/D syndrome, which is in a way, a little worse than your average dopesickness.

The symptoms begin within 6 hours of my last dose of kratom, and isn't really a "gradual" thing-- I have energy one minute, and am having full-blown RLS, anxiety attacks, leg cramping, nausea, gooseflesh, sneezing, etc.. the next. I never experienced this sort of sudden W/D with dope! Another odd thing: I am getting pretty serious "brain zaps"-- the same kind one might feel after an MDMA binge-- which is most DEF not something I've felt with traditional opioids!!! This is starting to become very debilitating: I live in a house where I am not ALLOWED to have real W/D symptoms without catching shit (funny, my partner would probably rather see me on an opioid than not, simply because I have a history of abnormally serious protracted symptoms and evil, long-lived PAWS). I have begun taking around 6 grams of quality kratom late at night, and am still waking up very, very ill each morning for the last 4 or 5 nights.

I cannot imagine a relatively mild opioid like kratom causing such intense withdrawals, so am wondering if its possible to still have underlying methadone W/D after switching to a shorter-acting mu-agonist, and maybe because I am tapering the kratom, isn't covering the symptoms even months later?!! Also, I know that there are a number of norepinephrine-tickling alkaloids in kratom leaf, but is there enough direct NRI activity to cause serotonin withdrawal symptoms (such as brain zaps?) I have not yet encountered another who's experienced this particular symptoms with kratom withdrawal...

I have always suspected that my synapses are all fucked up, but this is even weird for ME! 8(

 

[Johnsonville]

I have experienced symptoms like this before, granted never to this degree. The seemingly INSTANT turn-off of positive effects and subsiquent initiation of opiate-like w/ds is crazy, believe me I know. For me the symptoms of PAWS can get pretty bad especially the depression, mind-fog, and lack of energy/motivation but with norepinephric properties too particularly akathesia. Do keep in mind though that mitragynine and hydroxyl-7-mit are only partial mu agonists so I wouldn't rule out some w/ds from the methodone peeping their head through.

This sounds too simple to be the problem but try sucking down a liter of water when you get these negative effects. Kratom causes water retention and dehydration and, in my personal observation. what appears to be a shift in the water gradients of the brain. Give loading up on fluids a shot though, it works wonders for me!! It will literally turn the positive effects of kratom back on with 15 minutes or so. I wish you the best of luck in getting these things resolved, I can imagine they would be tough to deal with.

 

[Whipped Dream]

I've experienced brain zaps with kratom before. Usually when I take a very heavy dose of UEI.

Are you eating the powder or are you making a tea? I've found making a tea as opposed to eating the powder will drastically reduce the negative side effects. Worth a shot...