Isn’t there a way to quit kratom without suffering withdrawal symptoms?
Yes…
It’s Called Tapering and the Idea Has Been Around for Ages
First of all, why would someone want to taper? Chances are since you’re reading this, you have your own answer to this question. To thoroughly approach this topic, here are three reasons I can think of:
- Reduce kratom tolerance and reduce the body’s dependence on the chemicals in kratom
- Quit using kratom without experiencing bad withdrawal symptoms
- Lower the amount of kratom one needs to take in order to get the desired effects
The idea of tapering, or weaning is an idea as old as time. Moms wean their babies off of breast milk just like doctors wean their patients off of medications. Tapering down a kratom dose is more similar to the second example, but why does it work?
Chemical Dependence and Kratom Tolerance
Our bodies are amazing at adapting to their environment. If you spend a lot of time out in the sun, your skin develops a tan which allows it to handle sunlight better. If you start lifting weights, your body grows muscle to make you better at lifting. No matter what you do, your body is always adapting.
It’s no different when someone takes kratom regularly. When someone takes kratom every day, their body adapts to having kratom in the system. This is exactly why someone who noticed great effects at first will see diminished effects over time as long as they take the same dose. This leads many to take more and more kratom.
The more kratom they take, the more their body adapts to it. Over time their body grows accostomed to having large amounts of kratom in the system.
People who take kratom for a long time tend to slowly raise their dose to keep on getting the same effects. When they stop using kratom, all of the sudden their body is immediately out of balance and this is where withdrawal symptoms come from. I go more into depth on this subject in this article about kratom tolerance and withdrawals. For the purposes of tapering kratom, this knowledge is enough to continue.
Why Does Tapering Kratom Work?
This whole idea is very simple if you think about it. You have been taking kratom for a while, right? Chances are you are taking a lot more now than you did on the first day. Tapering, or weaning yourself off of kratom is simply undoing what you did in the first place.
To get to where you are now you slowly increased the amount of kratom you take day after day. To undo what you did, you must do the opposite and reduce your dose a little bit day after day until you get to where you want to be.
Steps to Tapering Down Your Kratom Dose
Growing up I was always very interested in drugs and their effect on the brain. This curiousity led to many late nights spent huddled on the couch with my smart phone reading websites like Erowid.org and Bluelight. I’ve always found it extremely facinating how drugs could alter the perceptions and behavior of people.
When I was in my 20’s I experimented with almost everything I could get my hands on. One of these periods of time was spent experimenting with Kratom. At the time I was under the assumption that kratom wasn’t addicting. Boy was I wrong…
Anyway, my point is that I’ve lived this stuff, so I know it works and I know it can work for you.
Step One to Tapering Kratom – Measure Your Consumption
How much kratom do you take, exactly? It’s critical for you to know exactly how much you take on a daily basis. If you are anything like I was, you are scooping the kratom into your mouth with a tablespoon. Each dose is different and it’s a rollercoaster of feeling great and feeling like crap. I hope you’re a little more in control than that, but if you aren’t, you’re in the right place!
So, step one is measuring your usage. The absolute best way to do this is with a digital scale. Measuring in grams how much you take each day is the most scientific and accurate way to measure kratom.
A measuring spoon is the second best way. If you are using the same brand and strain of kratom all the time then you can do a taper with a measuring spoon. The main issue with this is the density of the powder. Some spoonfuls are twice as dense as others. This can be troublesome when you are trying to taper down your dose.
So, get a spoon and a digital scale and start measuring how much kratom you take. It’s the only way to get started and critical for each step that follows.
Step Two to Tapering Kratom – Plan Your Taper
Planning your taper is simple, so don’t let it get too complicated. There are just a few things you need to know:
- How much kratom are you taking per day now?
- How long do you have to quit?
- What is your goal dose?
There are many methods people suggest for reducing your dose. A common rate of dose reduction is .5 grams every two days.
The Kick Kratom team likes to use percentages. We’ve created an algorithm that allows us to input your daily dose and tapering timeline and it will spit out a chart that shows exactly how much to take each day. It’s not 100% necessary but is the smoothest way to reduce your dose over time. We offer this chart to accompany the measuring spoon you can order by clicking the button in the sidebar —>
Once you have a plan of attack, there’s one more thing you need before you can get started.
Sidenote – Who is Your Accountabilibuddy?
Accountability is a very important piece to this puzzle. Is there anyone close to you that you can confide in who will help keep you on track with your plan?
If you keep this whole thing a secret it will be too easy to slack off and not follow your plan as closely as necessary. This will result in you not being able to taper your dose and could leave you addicted to kratom for longer than you would like to be.
Nobody wants that, so find someone to confide in and get some support behind you.
If you don’t want to get anyone from your personal life involved there is an amazing community on Reddit who will help keep you accountable. While an anonymous internet personal might be easier to squirm out of than a personal relationship, it’s far better than nothing and a great place to start.
Here’s a link to the Reddit forum where you can find friends and like-minded people going through a similar experience as you.
Step Three to Tapering Kratom – Executing Your Plan
Alright! If you’ve followed these steps then you have all the pieces in place to execute your taper and get off kratom withdrawal symptom-free. Now it’s time to hit the ground running.
Hopefully, you have an accurate way of measuring your kratom doses. We recommend a digital scale and a measuring spoon. Whatever way you choose to do it, it’s important you stay consistent.
We recommend putting together a little kit so you have everything you need to make it easy and streamlined.
There are also some really cool containers around that allow you to measure out a week’s worth of kratom at a time. The steps to using this kit are as follows:
- Decide how much you will reduce your dose every day or every other day.
- Break each daily dose into halves, thirds, or quarters and put them into the containers
When you get it all together you will have 7 days worth of doses measured out with each one broken into halves, thirds, or quarters.
Kratom has an average half-life of 6 hours. This means that after about 6-9 hours the effects of kratom will wear off. This is why it’s important to break your daily doses into halves, thirds, or quarters.
It really is that simple and there are a few behind the scenes reasons why this method is especially effective.
Why is the Kick Kratom Tapering Method is So Effective
It’s totally possible to wean yourself off kratom in a less controlled manner, but it comes with its downsides.
1. If you don’t pre-measure your doses, then you are relying on your willpower and self-control each time you take kratom.
If you are like the average human, you will have slip ups and end up taking more than you should. When you pre-measure your doses ahead of time it becomes much less likely that you will slip up like this.
This whole method is even more effective if you have someone else measure your doses for you. If your loved one is in charge of your kratom usage to help you quit, they can give you a 3-dose container each morning forcing you to take no more than your allotted amount of kratom.
2. This method takes as much thinking as possible out of the equation
Similar to the last point, using this method of measuring out all of your doses ahead of time and putting them in individual container takes most of the thought out of it. You no longer have to think about how much you should take or whether or not you should take more. You just pull the container out, open the flap, and take your kratom.
Part of being addicted to a substance is the ritual, or habit, or using it. If you follow this method you are taking as much of the ritual out of it as possible.
Check Out Some Supplements That Can Help With Tapering Kratom
Jumping Off – Is Quitting Part Way Through a Taper a Good Idea?
A lot of tapering methods talk about getting to a jump off point. A jump off point is when you have reduced your dose enough that you can handle quitting completely.
For some, this might be the way to go. If you are tapering your dose down and have got to a point with the withdrawal symptoms are something you can handle, then jumping off can work. The problem I see is that you run the risk of relapsing.
Relapsing is when you go back to using kratom the way you were before you started your taper.
For those who are worried about relapsing and are having a good experience using the tapering method, I recommend you keep tapering until you get down to zero. This way you won’t have to worry about experiencing the withdrawal symptoms that come from quitting with a kratom tolerance.
Conclusion
Here you have a general overview of what is involved in a kratom taper. I suggest you do your own research and consult a doctor or medical professional about anything that involves your health.
With that said, kratom isn’t a bad substance. Like most things, it has many positives that, in my opinion, outweigh the negatives. Also like most things, it’s best enjoyed in moderation.
If you have gotten to the point where you take kratom every day tapering your dose might only be part of the puzzle. You must also figure out why you’re taking it every day. If you are using kratom to make you feel good, you will need to find other ways to feel good to replace what kratom is doing for you.
For more information about quitting kratom, check out this article that explores the ins and outs of quitting kratom as well as the options there are other than tapering.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional. I do not condone the use of kratom or suggest anyone put anything into their bodies without first consulting with a doctor or medical professional. The purpose of this website is education and the promotion of responsibility in regards to kratom and health.