Kratom Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline and When to Get Help

Medically reviewed
Written by Still Detox Editorial Team
Updated October 7, 2026

Kratom withdrawal is the set of physical and emotional symptoms, such as muscle aches, runny nose, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, anxiety and cravings, that starts when a person who uses kratom daily stops or cuts back.

Kratom withdrawal begins within hours of the last dose. Most people have mild to moderate symptoms, while heavy daily use, 7-OH products and other substances raise the need for medical detox.

What is kratom withdrawal?

Kratom withdrawal is the reaction the body has when daily kratom use stops, because kratom’s alkaloids activate the same mu-opioid receptors that opioid drugs act on. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes kratom withdrawal as mild to moderate for most people who stop regular use.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree native to Southeast Asia. NIDA reports that kratom’s main compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, activate mu-opioid receptors, with effects that only partially compare to opioids like heroin or oxycodone.

Kratom withdrawal key facts infographic: milder than opioid withdrawal, acts on mu-opioid receptors, 29.5% of surveyed users met kratom use disorder criteria and onset 1 to 12 hours after the last dose

Kratom withdrawal and kratom use disorder

Kratom withdrawal is one of the 11 criteria clinicians use to diagnose kratom use disorder under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Smith and colleagues (2022) found that 29.5% of 129 US adults who had used kratom met criteria for current kratom use disorder.

The next question is why kratom produces withdrawal at all.

Why does kratom cause withdrawal?

Kratom causes withdrawal because daily kratom use teaches the brain to rely on steady opioid-receptor activation, and stopping kratom removes that signal before the brain adjusts. The result is a rebound of restlessness, pain and anxiety.

Kruegel and colleagues (2019) showed in ACS Central Science that liver enzymes convert mitragynine into 7-hydroxymitragynine, a more potent opioid compound. In mice, that 7-OH accounts for most of mitragynine’s opioid pain-relieving effect.

What raises the risk of kratom withdrawal

There are 3 factors that raise the risk of kratom withdrawal:

Daily amount: Singh and colleagues (2014) linked 3 or more glasses of kratom a day to higher odds of severe dependence.
Concentrated products: Extracts and products with added 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) deliver far more opioid strength than leaf.
Self-treatment: NIDA reports that people use kratom to manage opioid withdrawal, pain, fatigue and mental health problems, which ties kratom to daily needs.

These factors shape which kratom withdrawal symptoms appear and how strong they feel.

What are the symptoms of kratom withdrawal?

The main kratom withdrawal symptoms are muscle aches and spasms, runny nose and watery eyes, diarrhea, hot flashes, trouble sleeping, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, low mood and cravings. NIDA notes pain and sleep problems during kratom cessation.

Singh and colleagues (2014) recorded kratom withdrawal symptoms in 293 regular users in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Smith and colleagues (2022) found moderate withdrawal among US adults, led by stomach upset, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, fatigue and craving.

Physical kratom withdrawal symptoms

The 7 physical kratom withdrawal symptoms are:

Muscle aches and spasms: Pain in the legs, back and joints, listed first among physical symptoms in the Singh study.
Runny nose and watery eyes: Cold-like symptoms that match early opioid withdrawal.
Diarrhea and stomach upset: Loose stools, cramps and nausea.
Hot flashes and chills: Sweating, fever-like feelings and goosebumps.
Trouble sleeping: Insomnia and broken sleep.
Poor appetite: Eating less during the first days off kratom.
Tremors and yawning: Shaking and frequent yawning, listed by Bin Abdullah (2020) in Current Drug Targets.

Psychological kratom withdrawal symptoms

The 5 psychological kratom withdrawal symptoms are:

Restlessness: Feeling unable to sit still or relax.
Irritability and anger: A short temper with family and coworkers.
Anxiety and tension: Nervousness and tension, reported in the Singh study.
Low mood: Sadness and depressed mood, reported in Singh (2014) and the 2023 expert forum.
Cravings: A strong urge to take kratom again to stop the symptoms.

Signs of kratom withdrawal in someone you love

Signs of kratom withdrawal in a family member include sudden irritability, sweating, yawning, a runny nose, trouble sleeping and repeated trips to buy kratom. The timing of these signs follows a recognizable course.

How long does kratom withdrawal last?

Kratom withdrawal starts 1 to 12 hours after the last dose in long-term users, and no study has measured exactly how long kratom withdrawal lasts. The 2023 expert forum found symptoms milder than opioid withdrawal, and Singh and colleagues (2014) found cravings among regular users.

Kratom withdrawal timeline

There are 3 phases in the kratom withdrawal timeline:

Hours 1 to 12, onset: Restlessness, anxiety, runny nose and muscle aches begin. Saingam and colleagues (2023) recorded withdrawal starting 1 to 12 hours after the last dose in long-term users.
The first days, acute withdrawal: Muscle pain, diarrhea, sweats, insomnia and low mood reach their strongest point. A case of withdrawal triggered by naltrexone resolved in about 36 hours with intensive care (Jarka and Gregoire, 2023).
After the acute phase, cravings: Physical symptoms ease, while cravings and sleep problems remain the main relapse risk, as Singh and colleagues (2014) found in regular users.

Phase	Timing	What happens
Onset	1 to 12 hours after the last dose	Restlessness, anxiety, runny nose, muscle aches
Acute withdrawal	The first days	Muscle pain, diarrhea, sweats, insomnia, low mood
Cravings	After physical symptoms ease	Cravings, broken sleep, low energy

Kratom withdrawal timeline infographic showing 3 phases: hours 1 to 12, the first days and the cravings that follow the acute phase

Medical detox at Still Detox averages 7 to 10 days and extends to 14 days for complex cases. That range reflects how much kratom withdrawal duration differs from person to person.

Is kratom withdrawal dangerous?

Kratom withdrawal by itself is “generally milder” than opioid withdrawal, according to the 2023 expert forum, but dehydration, relapse and other substances create real risk. Heavy daily use and concentrated 7-OH products raise that risk further.

There are 4 situations that make kratom withdrawal dangerous:

Dehydration: Ongoing diarrhea and sweating drain fluids and electrolytes.
Other substances: Alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids add risk, and NIDA reports that nearly all kratom-related deaths involved other drugs or contaminants.
Relapse after tolerance drops: Returning to a previous dose after days without kratom raises the risk of kratom overdose.
Naltrexone or other opioid blockers: Jarka and Gregoire (2023) reported severe withdrawal, with confusion and hallucinations, after naltrexone in a daily kratom user.

Kratom vs 7-OH withdrawal

Stanciu (2026) reported in Cureus that traditional kratom produces mild, delayed withdrawal, while potent kratom derivatives produce rapid, severe withdrawal. Daily users of concentrated products face a faster, harder 7-OH withdrawal than kratom leaf users.

What helps with kratom withdrawal?

What helps most with kratom withdrawal is a medically guided plan: a gradual taper, non-opioid medications for symptoms, fluids and sleep support, and therapy for cravings. The 2023 expert forum recommends clonidine, lofexidine and gradual kratom dose tapering before opioid medications.

Medical detox for kratom withdrawal

Kratom detox symptoms are the same as kratom withdrawal symptoms, managed under medical care. Medical detox gives kratom withdrawal daily medical monitoring and medication adjustments. Stanciu and colleagues (2019) advised clinicians in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs to treat kratom withdrawal with the approach used for opioid withdrawal.

Medications for kratom withdrawal

There are 3 types of medication used for kratom withdrawal:

Clonidine and lofexidine: Non-opioid medications that calm sweating, anxiety and restlessness, named first by the 2023 expert forum.
Comfort medications: Medicines for diarrhea, nausea, aches and sleep, chosen by symptom.
Buprenorphine: Used “judiciously on an individual basis,” according to the expert forum, with extra caution for people with no prior opioid use.

Kratom withdrawal remedies at home

Home remedies for kratom withdrawal support comfort but do not replace medical care. Fluids, light meals, rest and a steady sleep routine ease the first days, and no supplement is FDA-approved to treat kratom withdrawal. A supervised taper replaces guesswork when daily use is heavy.

Should you quit kratom cold turkey?

The 2023 expert forum favors gradual kratom dose tapering over cold turkey, and the safer way to quit kratom starts with a physician-set taper.

Therapy after kratom withdrawal

Therapy treats the pain, stress and triggers behind daily kratom use. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) build skills for cravings and distress, which matters most once physical symptoms fade.

How does Still Detox treat kratom withdrawal?

Still Detox treats kratom withdrawal with an individualized taper during medical detox, then residential treatment, and lists kratom among the substances that need medical detox. The same levels of care run in Boca Raton, Florida and Mays Landing, New Jersey.

“Kratom feels harmless until you try to stop. In detox, our nurses check vital signs every 4 hours and follow the taper our Medical Director sets for each person’s age and medical risks.”

Britney Marshall, RN, Director of Nursing, Still Detox

Taper and comfort care in Boca Raton

The Medical Director sets each kratom taper by age and medical risk, and nurses provide comfort care around the clock. People in South Florida begin kratom withdrawal treatment on the University Hospital campus, next to Boca Regional Hospital.

Step-down to residential care around day 8

Clients step into residential treatment around day 8, without a facility transfer, for individual therapy, group therapy and case management. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is available.

Kratom detox in New Jersey

Still Detox New Jersey in Mays Landing has a full gym inside the detox unit and provides airport pickup. Kratom and 7-OH detox in Atlantic County, New Jersey serves people near Atlantic City, about 26 minutes away.

What else do people ask about kratom withdrawal?

What is the recommended tapering schedule for kratom?

No standard kratom tapering schedule exists in published guidance. The 2023 expert forum supports gradual kratom dose tapering, and a physician sets each taper by daily amount, health and other substances.

What is the antidote for kratom?

Naloxone (Narcan) reverses opioid overdose, and NIDA reports that naloxone reversed 7-OH breathing suppression in laboratory studies. Give naloxone and get emergency help for any suspected overdose.

How long does it take for the brain to recover from kratom?

No study has measured how long the brain takes to recover from kratom. Physical symptoms ease first, while cravings persist in regular users (Singh, 2014), which is why therapy continues after detox.

Can you detox from kratom at home?

The 2023 expert forum called kratom withdrawal “generally more tolerable and self-manageable.” Heavy daily use, 7-OH products, other substances, or heart and mental health conditions call for medical detox and professional kratom withdrawal help.

Can kratom withdrawal cause depression?

Yes. Low mood and sadness appear among kratom withdrawal symptoms in Singh and colleagues (2014) and the 2023 expert forum. Persistent depression after withdrawal needs a mental health evaluation.

What happens if you take kratom daily?

Daily kratom use builds tolerance and physical dependence. Singh and colleagues (2014) found that regular users who drank 3 or more glasses of kratom a day had higher odds of severe dependence and withdrawal.

Is kratom withdrawal as bad as opiate withdrawal?

No, for most people. The 2023 expert forum found runny nose, muscle pain and diarrhea similar to opioid withdrawal, with symptoms “generally milder” than withdrawal from chronic opioid use.

Sources

Bin Abdullah, M. F. I. L. (2020). Kratom dependence and treatment options: A comprehensive review of the literature. Current Drug Targets, 21, 1566–1579.
Henningfield, J. E., Chawarski, M. C., Garcia-Romeu, A., et al. (2023). Kratom withdrawal: Discussions and conclusions of a scientific expert forum. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 7, 100142.
Jarka, C., & Gregoire, K. (2023). Precipitated withdrawal with kratom use following naltrexone administration. Mental Health Clinician, 13(3), 155–158.
Kruegel, A. C., Uprety, R., Grinnell, S. G., et al. (2019). 7-Hydroxymitragynine is an active metabolite of mitragynine and a key mediator of its analgesic effects. ACS Central Science, 5(6), 992–1001.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2026). Kratom. National Institutes of Health.
Saingam, D., Singh, D., Geater, A. F., et al. (2023). The health impact of long-term kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use in Southern Thailand. Substance Use & Misuse, 58, 1212–1225.
Singh, D., Müller, C. P., & Vicknasingam, B. K. (2014). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) dependence, withdrawal symptoms and craving in regular users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 139, 132–137.
Smith, K. E., Dunn, K. E., Rogers, J. M., et al. (2022). Assessment of kratom use disorder and withdrawal among an online convenience sample of US adults. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 16, 666–670.
Stanciu, C. N. (2026). Severe early-onset withdrawal following intentional use of mitragynine pseudoindoxyl: A case report and emerging clinical considerations. Cureus, 18(3), e105224.
Stanciu, C. N., Gnanasegaram, S. A., Ahmed, S., & Penders, T. (2019). Kratom withdrawal: A systematic review with case series. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51(1), 12–18.

Written by

Still Detox Editorial Team

Still Detox

The Still Detox Editorial Team writes and updates these articles for Still Detox, a Joint Commission accredited drug and alcohol detox and residential treatment provider with facilities in Boca Raton, Florida, and Mays Landing, New Jersey.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Gladys Martinez, DO

Medical Director, Still Detox · Reviewed October 8, 2026

Dr. Gladys Martinez, DO, is the Medical Director at Still Detox and a licensed osteopathic physician in Florida (license OS7477). Dr. Martinez evaluates every client in person within 24 hours of admission and oversees detox medication tapers. Read Dr. Gladys Martinez’s full bio.

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Kratom Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline and When to Get Help

What is kratom withdrawal?

Kratom withdrawal and kratom use disorder

Why does kratom cause withdrawal?

What raises the risk of kratom withdrawal