Kratom and 7-OH: What to know about the morphine-like compound

The FDA is cracking down on a potent compound found in kratom supplements: 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH.

Why it matters: Products with 7-OH — which acts like an opioid and has been dubbed "legal morphine" by researchers — have surged in popularity.

What they're saying: "7-OH is a compound found naturally in the kratom plant. In carefully measured formulations, many users report it helps with pain, mood, and withdrawal, without the side effects of opioids," Jeff Smith, National Policy Director at the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART), said in a statement last month.

"Of course, strong regulation is essential to ensure product consistency and public safety." By the numbers: Federal survey data from 2021 suggests around 0.7% of Americans 12 and older use kratom products, but recent estimates from the American Kratom Association and Journal of Psychoactive Drugs put usage at 9.1% — or over 20 million people.

Catch up quick: Kratom extracts were introduced to the market in September 2023 — five years after the DEA announced an intention to ban kratom.

In the years since, "it was like an unofficial war between these manufacturers to see who could get the most potent extract product out there," says Chris McCurdy, a professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida who's studied kratom for over 20 years.

The big picture: As of March, 24 states regulate kratom or its components in some manner, per the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association.

In states with kratom age restrictions, seven states set the minimum age at 18, while 11 require buyers be 21+, LAPPA reports.

McCurdy says regulating access makes sense, particularly because "we don't know how it affects young minds."

Illinois state Rep. Marcus Evans, from Chicago's Southeast Side, introduced the Illinois Kratom Consumer Protection Act in March, which provides labeling requirements for kratom products and outlines enforcement and penalties.

"Kratom" can refer to the plant or powdered leaf — or kratom-derived concentrates in forms like tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots that are available in some smoke shops and gas stations.

It's been marketed as a mood booster, pain reliever and remedy for symptoms of quitting opioids, but that doesn't mean all kratom products are "natural and safe," according to the Mayo Clinic.

But once you extract and concentrate compounds like OH-7 — removing the natural plant material — he says you're closer to Everclear, the grain spirit that can be 95% alcohol by volume.

The kratom plant has OH-7 only in trace amounts, but potency in herbal supplements varies widely. OH-7 "is a pure opioid," McCurdy says.

That means it interacts with opioid receptors just like prescription opioids would, so researchers warn it could be highly addictive.

"It's more potent than morphine in treating pain in animals," McCurdy says. "The fact that it's available without a prescription is really problematic."

Another potential danger: Residual oxidants and other contaminants could remain in concentrated kratom products made in unregulated labs.

WIKI

Mitragyna speciosa is a tropical evergreen tree of the Rubiaceae family (coffee family) native to Southeast Asia. It is indigenous to Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea, where its dark green, glossy leaves, known as kratom, have been used in herbal medicine since at least the 19th century. They have also historically been consumed via chewing, smoking, and as a tea. Kratom has opioid-like properties and some stimulant-like effects.

kratom has been used in traditional medicine. The leaves are chewed to relieve musculoskeletal pain and increase energy, appetite, and sexual desire in ways similar to khat and coca.

While some literature reviews claim that kratom has less potential for dependence or overdose than traditional opioids, other reviews note that kratom withdrawal itself can still be quite severe.[35]

In 1836, kratom was reported to have been used as an opium substitute in Malaysia. Kratom was also used as an opium substitute in Thailand in the 19th century.

At low doses, kratom produces euphoric effects comparable to those of coca. At higher doses, kratom produces opioid-like effects.

In Thailand, a 2007 survey found that the lifetime, past year, and past 30 days kratom consumption rates were 2.32%, 0.81% and 0.57%, respectively, among respondents aged 12–65 years, and that kratom was the most widely used recreational drug in Thailand.

Kratom may be mixed with other psychoactive drugs, such as caffeine and codeine. Starting in the 2010s, a tea-based cocktail known as “4×100” became popular among some young people across Southeast Asia and especially in Thailand. It is a mix of kratom leaves, cough syrup, Coca-Cola, and ice. Around 2011, people who consumed the cocktail were often viewed more negatively than users of traditional kratom, but not as negatively as users of heroin. As of 2012, use of the cocktail was a severe problem among youth in three provinces along the border of Malaysia and southern Thailand.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitragyna_speciosa

35. Stanciu CN, Gnanasegaram SA, Ahmed S, Penders T (January 2019). “Kratom Withdrawal: A Systematic Review with Case Series”. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 51 (1): 12–18. doi:10.1080/02791072.2018.1562133. ISSN 2159-9777. PMID 30614408. S2CID 58643707.

grok3:

Yes, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH-MIT), a potent alkaloid found in kratom, has a significant potential for addiction. It acts as a partial agonist at μ-opioid receptors, with a potency estimated to be 13-40 times greater than morphine, contributing to its rewarding and opioid-like effects. Preclinical studies show that rats can acquire self-administration of 7-OH-MIT, indicating reinforcing properties, and high doses (e.g., 3.2 mg/kg) were aversive in intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedures, suggesting complex reward dynamics. Human reports on X describe rapid tolerance, physical dependency, and severe withdrawal symptoms, often worse than those of traditional opioids like oxycodone or heroin, particularly with frequent dosing due to its short half-life (1-4 hours).

Chronic use of concentrated 7-OH-MIT products can lead to addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal, with some users reporting a cycle of dependency driven by the need to avoid withdrawal. However, within whole kratom leaf or extracts, 7-OH-MIT may produce milder withdrawal compared to classical opioids, likely due to lower concentrations and the presence of other alkaloids like mitragynine.

The FDA has raised concerns about kratom-related substance use disorder, noting cases of cravings and continued use despite adverse effects.[](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7542979/)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7-Hydroxymitragynine)[](https://www.acslab.com/kratom/7-hydroxymitragynine-kratoms-minor-alkaloid)

System: I noticed you cited multiple sources in your response about 7-OH-MIT’s addictive potential. Could you clarify which specific claims are supported by which sources? I want to ensure I understand the evidence behind each point.

System: Let me break down the specific claims in my response about the addictive potential of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH-MIT) and tie them directly to the sources that support each point. I’ll list each claim and indicate which web or X post references provide the evidence.

1. **Claim**: 7-OH-MIT is a potent alkaloid found in kratom, acting as a partial agonist at μ-opioid receptors with a potency 13-40 times greater than morphine, contributing to its rewarding and opioid-like effects.
- **Sources**:
- ****: States that 7-OH-MIT is approximately 13 times more potent than morphine and acts on mu-opioid receptors, supporting its potent opioid-like properties.[](https://www.acslab.com/kratom/7-hydroxymitragynine-kratoms-minor-alkaloid)
- ****: Notes that 7-OH-MIT is considered 13-40 times more potent than morphine at opioid receptors, contributing to rapid-onset analgesia and euphoria.[](https://www.thegreendragoncbd.com/blog/mitragynine-pseudoindoxyl-vs-7-hydroxymitragynine)
- ****: Confirms that 7-OH-MIT is 30-40 times more potent at opioid receptors and produces opioid-like effects such as euphoria and analgesia.[](https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/legal-morphine-rise-kratom-and-7-oh-us-2025a1000cco)

2. **Claim**: Preclinical studies show that rats can acquire self-administration of 7-OH-MIT, indicating reinforcing properties.
- **Sources**:
- ****: References a study (Hemby et al., 2019) showing that rats acquire self-administration of 7-OH-MIT, suggesting reinforcing properties and potential abuse liability.[](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7542979/)
- ****: Notes that in a rat model, rats preferred 7-OH-MIT over mitragynine in a dose-dependent manner similar to morphine, indicating reinforcing effects.[](https://pharmacy.uconn.edu/course/kratom/)

3. **Claim**: High doses of 7-OH-MIT (e.g., 3.2 mg/kg) were aversive in intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedures, suggesting complex reward dynamics.
- **Sources**:
- ****: States that a high dose of 7-OH-MIT (3.2 mg/kg) increased brain reward thresholds in the ICSS procedure, indicating aversive effects at high doses.[](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7542979/)
- ****: Reinforces that a high dose of 7-OH-MIT is aversive in the ICSS procedure, contrasting with morphine’s rewarding effects at intermediate doses.[](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871620304002)

4. **Claim**: Human reports on X describe rapid tolerance, physical dependency, and severe withdrawal symptoms, often worse than those of traditional opioids like oxycodone or heroin, particularly with frequent dosing due to its short half-life (1-4 hours).
- **Sources**:
- ****: A user (@TheGoblinnn) describes 7-OH-MIT as having “unbelievable addictive potential,” highlighting rapid dependency.
- ****: Notes that 7-OH-MIT is “way more addictive than percs” with “trash” withdrawal symptoms, comparing it to Dilaudid due to its short half-life.
- ****: Reports that 7-OH-MIT withdrawals feel worse than oxycodone after prolonged use.
- ****: Mentions that 7-OH-MIT is “100% just as addictive” with withdrawals, emphasizing its addictiveness for pain management users.
- ****: States that 7-OH-MIT withdrawals are worse than heroin, with a short half-life (1-4 hours) necessitating frequent redosing.
- ****: Highlights rapid tolerance and physical dependency with 7-OH-MIT, describing a cycle of dependency to avoid withdrawal.

5. **Claim**: Chronic use of concentrated 7-OH-MIT products can lead to addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal, but within whole kratom leaf or extracts, 7-OH-MIT may produce milder withdrawal compared to classical opioids due to lower concentrations and the presence of other alkaloids like mitragynine.
- **Sources**:
- ****: Notes that concentrated chronic use of 7-OH-MIT isolate can cause addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal, but within whole kratom leaves and extracts, it appears to have milder withdrawal symptoms and lower addiction risk compared to classical opioids.[](https://www.acslab.com/kratom/7-hydroxymitragynine-kratoms-minor-alkaloid)
- ****: Discusses kratom-related substance use disorder, with 7-OH-MIT contributing to cravings and withdrawal, but suggests that whole kratom products may have a different profile due to lower 7-OH-MIT concentrations and other alkaloids.[](https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/legal-morphine-rise-kratom-and-7-oh-us-2025a1000cco)
- ****: Indicates that 7-OH-MIT has greater abuse potential than mitragynine, with preclinical studies suggesting reinforcing effects, but traditional kratom products (with lower 7-OH-MIT) have a more balanced receptor interaction.[](https://pharmacy.uconn.edu/course/kratom/)

6. **Claim**: The FDA has raised concerns about kratom-related substance use disorder, noting cases of cravings and continued use despite adverse effects.
- **Sources**:
- ****: Reports FDA concerns about kratom-related substance use disorder, including cases of cravings, prolonged use, and withdrawal symptoms, particularly linked to 7-OH-MIT’s high potency.[](https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/legal-morphine-rise-kratom-and-7-oh-us-2025a1000cco)

These sources collectively provide a robust foundation for the claims made. The web sources offer scientific and regulatory perspectives, while the X posts reflect real-world user experiences, though they are anecdotal and treated as inconclusive. Let me know if you’d like further clarification or details on any specific point or source!

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.