Kratom Addiction
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Revolution Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment
Richard E. Repass, MD
Psychiatrist & Addiction Medicine located in Mercer Island, WA
Kratom is a natural plant-based product, but it has potent active ingredients that have the same effect as opioids, including the potential for addiction. At Revolution Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment, Richard E. Repass, MD, specializes in kratom addiction detoxification using a safe and highly effective IV infusion of BR+NAD™, which stops your cravings and restores normal brain function. To learn more about treatment for kratom addiction, call the office in Mercer Island, Washington, to schedule an appointment.
Kratom Addiction Q & A
What is kratom?
The kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. The leaves of the kratom tree contain many active ingredients, but two of its compounds activate opioid receptors in the brain. In low doses, kratom has a stimulant effect, while higher doses have an impact similar to morphine.
Many people use kratom to relieve pain and help anxiety, while others use it for recreational purposes. Some patients try using kratom to self-treat their opioid addiction, but that usually doesn’t work since kratom is also addictive.
Kratom is currently widely available as an herbal supplement. Since supplements aren’t regulated, there’s no guarantee that every kratom product contains the ingredients stated on the label. Each dose could contain more or less of the active ingredients. Additionally, it may be contaminated with unsafe ingredients.
What should I know about kratom addiction?
Since kratom works by activating brain receptors, ongoing use of the drug, or using high doses, leads to changes in the brain’s reward system. With ongoing use, the brain’s chemistry changes and it begins to crave kratom. As a result, you develop uncontrollable urges to take ever-higher doses to meet the brain’s need.
Once you’re addicted, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms caused by a kratom addiction include nausea, vomiting, chills, sweats, muscle spasms, and pain. You may also develop anxiety, depression, and irritability.
How is kratom addiction treated?
Kratom addiction may be treated using the same medications as those used for opioid addiction, such as Suboxone®. Suboxone relieves the opioid cravings, but it may not be effective for relieving the effects of other active ingredients in kratom. As a result, patients may continue to have side effects.
Dr. Repass has a second option: detox treatment using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), which restores brain function and relieves the full range of cravings. When you have a kratom addiction, your body’s natural supply of NAD becomes depleted. NAD is an essential biochemical used for energy production, DNA repair, and regulating neurotransmitters.
When you receive IV infusions of NAD using a special formula, BR+NAD™, your levels of NAD increase, your cravings are eliminated, and you regain cognitive and mood control. Your treatment takes place in the comfort of the Revolution Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment office, where you get an IV infusion of BR+NAD once daily for 10-15 days.
To safely detox from a kratom addiction, call Revolution Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment to schedule an appointment.
DISCLAIMER: NAD+ qualifies as a supplement under FDA guidelines. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Intravenous NAD+ therapy is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
