How Suboxone Treats Kratom Addiction: What Patients in Tennessee Should Know

If you’re searching for how Suboxone treats kratom addiction, you’re not alone. Many people across Tennessee — including Ridgetop, Millersville, Spring Hill, Smyrna, and Byrdstown — start using kratom believing it’s a “natural” or safer alternative to opioids. Over time, however, kratom can lead to physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and a cycle that feels just as hard to escape as traditional opioids.

This article explains how Suboxone can help treat kratom addiction, what withdrawal looks like, and how Recovery Care of Columbia provides safe, private, telemedicine-based treatment statewide.

Recovery for Tennesseans by Tennesseans in Recovery

Recovery Care of Columbia provides evidence-based Suboxone treatment through secure telemedicine, staffed by licensed Tennessee clinicians. No clinic visits required.

• Serving all communities across Tennessee
• Accredited by The Joint Commission
• Owned and operated by people in long-term recovery

Understanding Kratom Addiction and Dependence

Kratom comes from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree and interacts with opioid receptors in the brain. While it’s often marketed as an herbal supplement, kratom can act very much like an opioid.

With regular use, kratom may cause:

• Physical dependence
• Tolerance (needing more to feel the same effect)
• Withdrawal symptoms when stopping
• Cravings and loss of control

Many patients report starting kratom to manage pain, anxiety, or opioid withdrawal, only to find themselves unable to stop.

What Kratom Withdrawal Feels Like

Kratom withdrawal can vary, but many patients describe symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal.

Common kratom withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety and restlessness
• Muscle aches and joint pain
• Insomnia
• Nausea or stomach cramps
• Sweating and chills
• Depression or irritability
• Intense cravings

Because these symptoms can interfere with work, parenting, and daily life, people often continue using kratom just to feel “normal.”

How Suboxone Treats Kratom Addiction

Suboxone is a medication that contains buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it activates opioid receptors enough to reduce withdrawal and cravings — without producing the same high as full opioids.

Here’s how Suboxone treats kratom addiction:

• Reduces withdrawal symptoms when kratom use stops
• Stabilizes opioid receptors, easing cravings
• Prevents the cycle of repeated kratom dosing
• Allows the body and brain to recover

Because kratom acts on opioid receptors, Suboxone can be an effective and medically appropriate treatment when prescribed and monitored by an experienced provider.

Federal health agencies such as the FDA and SAMHSA recognize buprenorphine-based treatment as a standard approach for opioid-related substance use disorders.

Transitioning Safely From Kratom to Suboxone

Starting Suboxone after kratom use requires careful timing and medical guidance. Taking Suboxone too soon can cause precipitated withdrawal, which feels worse than regular withdrawal.

At Recovery Care of Columbia, providers:

• Review your kratom use history and dosage
• Explain when to stop kratom safely
• Guide you on when to begin Suboxone
• Monitor symptoms during induction
• Adjust treatment to keep you comfortable

This supervised approach is especially important for people using high-dose or long-term kratom.

Kratom’s Many Street Names

Kratom, 7-OH, and 7-Hydroxymitragynine have many nicknames on the street. If you have a family member of friend mentioning any of the names below, they are likely referring to some form Kratom/7-OH/7-.

• Hydro
• Thang
• Kakuam
• Ketum
• Herbal speedball
• Biak
• Maeng Da
• Thom

Kratom’s Many Chemical Compounds

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) contains over 50 identified alkaloids, primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which account for most of its psychoactive effects. These compounds act as partial agonists at μ-opioid receptors while also interacting with adrenergic, serotonin, and dopamine pathways. Interaction with the μ-opioid receptors is why Suboxone has become the standard for treating Kratom/7-OH withdrawals and cravings.

Alkaloids including paynantheine, speciociliatine, speciogynine, mitraciliatine, and corynantheidine, contribute to Kratom/7-OH’s stimulant, sedative, muscle-relaxant, and analgesic effects, as well as its highly variable clinical effects and dependence potential.

The most common Kratom compounds are:

• Mitragynine: The most abundant active alkaloid, acting as a partial opioid agonist and interacting with various brain receptors.
• Paynantheine: Contributes to kratom’s overall effects.
• Corynantheidine: An alkaloid that can block opioid receptors.
• Speciogynine, Mitralactonal, Rhynchophylline, Raubasine, and Mitragynaline: Other identified alkaloids.
• 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-HMG): A powerful, though less abundant, opioid agonist, often considered more potent than mitragynine.
• Speciociliatine: Another important alkaloid found in significant amounts.
• Mitraphylline: An alkaloid with potential anti-inflammatory properties.

Why Telemedicine Works for Kratom Addiction Treatment

Many people using kratom don’t identify as having an “opioid addiction,” which can make seeking in-person care feel intimidating or unnecessary. Telemedicine removes many of these barriers.

Benefits of online Suboxone treatment include:

• Private video appointments from home
• No travel or clinic visits required
• Flexible scheduling for work and family
• Reduced stigma and judgment
• Faster access to care

Telemedicine makes it easier for patients in rural or underserved areas of Tennessee to get help without disrupting their lives.

Why Patients Trust Recovery Care of Columbia

Recovery Care of Columbia specializes in compassionate, evidence-based addiction treatment delivered virtually across Tennessee.

Patients choose Recovery Care of Columbia because:

• Accredited by The Joint Commission
• Clinic owners in long-term recovery
• Over 100+ Google Reviews (from real patients)
• Recipient of Tennessee’s very first Virtual OBOT medical license
• Over 1000 patients served since 2021
• 2025 regional award winner for the “Best Substance Abuse Facility” by Best of Tennessee
• Same-day Suboxone prescriptions
• A kind and caring staff, some who are in recovery
• Overnight Suboxone delivery available in most areas (the pharmacy charges a delivery fee)
• A compassionate team of caring doctors, nurse practitioners, counselors, and administrators who genuinely care about your recovery.
• No clinic visits, ever. 100% online Suboxone treatment statewide
• Same-day appointments available every Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (based on availability)
• Evening appointments available every Monday and Wednesday until 9:00 PM

Our helpful staff is happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us or send us a text at (931) 548-3062, or message us securely using the Spruce Health mobile app.

Worried about starting online addiction treatment? Learn what to expect during your first Suboxone telemedicine appointment.

Treatment is always respectful, non-judgmental, and focused on long-term stability.

Insurance, TennCare, and Treatment Access

Kratom addiction treatment with Suboxone is often more accessible than patients expect.

Recovery Care of Columbia offers:

• TennCare Medicaid addiction treatment coverage
• Commercial insurance Suboxone program acceptance
• A payment plan for self-pay telemedicine Suboxone
• A sliding-scale program for eligible patients

You can review insurance and pricing details before scheduling, so there are no surprises. 

If you have TennCare Medicaid insurance, your treatment and medication costs are typically $0. If you have commercial health insurance, we will provide you with a treatment cost estimate before scheduling your first telemedicine appointment. If you don’t have health insurance, we offer biweekly and monthly payment plans.

You can get started through:

• our TennCare Suboxone appointments page
• our commercial insurance program
• our self-pay registration option

Insurance and pricing are explained clearly before treatment begins.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kratom and Suboxone

Is kratom really addictive?

Yes. Kratom can cause physical dependence and withdrawal due to its effects on opioid receptors.

Can Suboxone help even if kratom is “natural”?

Yes. Whether a substance is natural or synthetic doesn’t change how it affects the brain’s opioid system.

Do I need to go to rehab to stop using kratom?

Not necessarily. Many patients successfully treat kratom addiction through outpatient telemedicine with Suboxone.

Will I have to stay on Suboxone forever?

No. Treatment length varies. Your provider will work with you to create a plan that fits your goals.

Is online treatment private?

Yes. All appointments are confidential and protected by medical privacy laws.

Start Telemedicine Suboxone Treatment Today – Feel Better Tomorrow

Register for telemedicine Suboxone treatment using your TennCare Medicaid, commercial insurance, or choose a payment plan. (A sliding-scale program is also available) Click here if you’re a returning patient.

Addiction-Related Articles

• Kratom & 7-OH Addiction: Causes, Risks, and How Suboxone Treatment Can Help
• Kratom Withdrawal: Safe Treatment Options in Tennessee
• Kratom Addiction: Safe, Virtual Recovery Options in Tennessee

External Resources

• Kratom/7-OH/7-hydroxymitragynine addiction is another opioid addiction-related issue facing Tennessean’s, thanks to it being readily available and unregulated. Learn more about Kratom addiction and virtual treatment options in Tennessee.
• DEA.gov – Opioid Addiction Resources
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC.gov
• National Institute on Drug Abuse
• National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare