Medications for Kratom Withdrawal

No medicine is FDA-approved for kratom withdrawal. When doctors do use a medicine, they most often choose buprenorphine (Suboxone). Others, like clonidine, may help with specific symptoms. For buprenorphine and clonidine, the evidence is case reports, small case series and reviews, not large trials. Gabapentin hasn't been tested for kratom withdrawal.

Buprenorphine (Suboxone)

Buprenorphine is FDA-approved for opioid use disorder. For kratom, it's used off-label, and it's prescribed by doctors who treat opioid use disorder. Kratom's main compounds, mitragynine and 7-OH, act on mu-opioid receptors, the same receptors buprenorphine works on.

What the evidence shows:

• Kratom: a 2021 review found 8 people treated with buprenorphine-naloxone (6 published cases and 2 clinic patients).

• 7-OH: in a 2026 series of 9 people at a telehealth addiction clinic, 8 started buprenorphine successfully.

• Overall: there are no controlled studies showing it's safe or effective for kratom dependence, and researchers say larger trials are needed.

Timing matters. Starting buprenorphine too soon after kratom or 7-OH can cause precipitated withdrawal, a sudden and severe flare of symptoms. Doctors may wait until withdrawal is moderate, or start with very low doses. Read more about Suboxone and kratom interactions.

Clonidine

Clonidine isn't FDA-approved for opioid or kratom withdrawal, but doctors use it off-label to ease withdrawal symptoms. For kratom, the evidence is limited to reviews and case reports:

• Reviews list clonidine given by IV as an option during inpatient detox.

• In a 2026 case of 7-OH withdrawal, doctors used clonidine with buprenorphine and other comfort medicines.

For how it works in opioid withdrawal, see clonidine for opiate withdrawal.

A related medicine, lofexidine (Lucemyra), was FDA-approved on May 16, 2018. It eases opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults stopping opioids suddenly, for up to 14 days. It isn't approved for kratom, and it isn't a treatment for opioid use disorder.

Gabapentin

No published study has tested gabapentin for kratom withdrawal, and it isn't FDA-approved for any withdrawal. A doctor may still consider it for some symptoms, but it isn't an evidence-based treatment for kratom. Read more about gabapentin for opiate withdrawal.

Sleep and comfort medications

In the 2026 case of 7-OH withdrawal, doctors used these comfort medicines alongside buprenorphine:

• Ondansetron for nausea

• Loperamide for diarrhea

• Methocarbamol for muscle aches

• Anti-inflammatory pain relievers (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen for pain

Sleep medicines haven't been studied for kratom withdrawal. Most are sedating, and sedating drugs taken with kratom add to breathing risks. Ask a doctor before taking any sleep aid, including over-the-counter ones.

What doesn't help

Some things people try can make withdrawal riskier:

• More kratom or 7-OH. Kratom isn't FDA-approved for any use, and using it to ease withdrawal keeps the dependence going.

• Alcohol, benzodiazepines or someone else's opioids. Mixing them with kratom adds sedation and breathing risks.

• Kava. No research shows kava helps with kratom withdrawal, and the FDA warned in 2002 that kava supplements may be linked to severe liver injury.

• Naltrexone too early. Precipitated withdrawal has been reported when a person using kratom started naltrexone.

Talking to a clinician

A licensed doctor can help you decide whether you need medicine at all, and which one. Tell them what you use (leaf kratom or 7-OH) and how much. Say how often you use it and when you last did. List any other medicines you take.

Is it worth a morning off and a clinic bill just to ask where to start? Ask Doctronic first. Doctronic doesn't treat addiction or run detox. Its medical AI chat is free, and a video visit with a licensed doctor is $39. The doctor can help with your symptoms and refer you to addiction care. Get support for kratom withdrawal.

To find addiction treatment near you, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (TTY 1-800-487-4889). It's free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English and Spanish. It gives referrals, not counseling.

Call 911 for trouble breathing, a seizure, chest pain or fainting. If you have thoughts of hurting yourself, call or text 988.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need medicine to get through kratom withdrawal?

Not always. Stopping regular kratom use usually causes mild to moderate withdrawal, and some people manage with support and rest. A doctor can help you decide, especially after heavy use or 7-OH products.

Can I take someone else's Suboxone for kratom withdrawal?

No. Buprenorphine is a prescription medicine, and the timing of the first dose matters. Taken too soon, it can make withdrawal suddenly worse.

Can I buy clonidine or gabapentin over the counter?

No. Both are prescription medicines in the US. A licensed doctor can tell you whether either makes sense for you.

The Bottom Line

Buprenorphine is the most common choice. A doctor who treats opioid use disorder prescribes it and times the first dose to avoid precipitated withdrawal. Talk to a licensed doctor before taking any medicine for withdrawal.