Kratom: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

While 7-OH can be found naturally in kratom in small amounts, manufacturers have figured out how to supercharge it — boosting its concentrations in capsules, powders, liquids and edibles. That’s because kratom’s active ingredients — mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — bind to the same brain receptors as morphine and alcohol, triggering a rush of dopamine, the body’s “feel good hormone.” Available widely in gas stations and convenience stores across the US, the opioid-like substance is drawing scrutiny for its potent effects and high risk of abuse. These kratom consumer protection acts dictate how the product is made, how it is marketed, and who is eligible to purchase. Illinois, for example, has legislation under consideration that would make mitragynine and 7-OH Schedule III, which would restrict rather than outright ban the substances. While the federal government has floated the idea of scheduling 7-OH without any additional concrete action, states have been scheduling kratom much more quickly.

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It made my gut sick,” said Loring’s mom, Jennifer Young, after discovering 20 packs of kratom near Loring’s room. Warnings about the addictive nature of kratom have gone viral on social media platforms such as TikTok amid the spread of drinks like Feel Free, a tonic with kratom in it. Between 2011 and 2017, national poison control centers fielded 1,807 calls about kratom exposures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For now, kratom is technically legal, though some states are launching their own crackdown.

• In the same botanical family as coffee, kratom has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia.
• As with most herbal products, the research on drug interactions with kratom is incomplete.
• These chemicals bind to opioid receptors, which can cause opioid-like effects.
• Available widely in gas stations and convenience stores across the US, the opioid-like substance is drawing scrutiny for its potent effects and high risk of abuse.

They are chemically altered substances that carry potent opioid-like effects and pose an imminent threat to consumers,” Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy at AKA, said in a statement. “We are targeting a concentrated synthetic byproduct that is an opioid.” Some of these souped-up products contain 109% to 509% more 7-OH than what’s naturally in the plant. “These people find it difficult to control their use of kratom and experience opioid-like withdrawal symptoms when they stop.” “In the past two years, I have noticed an increased number of people coming to my clinic for the treatment of kratom addiction,” Volpicelli said. Its popularity has soared in the US in recent years, with many huntington blogs turning to it as a so-called natural fix for pain, anxiety, depression and even to kick opioid addiction.

“Despite our warnings that no kratom product is safe, we continue to find companies selling kratom and doing so with deceptive medical claims for which there’s no reliable scientific proof,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in 2018. The Food and Drug Administration tested 30 different kratom products in 2019 and found "significant levels" of lead and nickel in them, which researchers said could cause heavy metal poisoning if consumed over the long term. At higher doses, kratom can produce an opioid-like and euphoric state that has led to a steady growth of abuse worldwide, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. It wasn't until January 2024, after Kevin Oliveira had already been using the product for a year, that Botanic Tonics updated its back label to say kratom "can become habit-forming and harmful to your health if consumed irresponsibly."

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There is growing international concern about a possible threat to public health from kratom use. Read the product label closely and speak with a health care provider before using kratom. Kratom products are made from the leaf of the plant. The type of product, such as a liquid extract, ground powder, or tea, can also affect the chemicals naturally found in kratom. However, kratom products may still be available for purchase in many places. Ask your health care provider if you are not sure what ingredients are in a kratom product.

• The FDA draws a hard line between trace amounts in whole-leaf kratom and the concentrated versions showing up in gas stations and smoke shops.
• While the cannabis and kratom crackdowns were pushed by Tennessee’s hard-right GOP, the push for this new hallucinogen also came from them.
• At first, he says, he used kratom like an energy drink.
• CDPH is collaborating with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to educate and inform California retailers about kratom and 7-OH products, which are not legally approved to sell or manufacture for consumption.
• Over the past several years, the 7-0H marketed products have been produced with much higher 7-0H contents than Kratom leaves, often without the other alkaloids in it, all pressed into a pill form.

In July 2025, the FDA formally recommended that the DEA place 7-hydroxymitragynine on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Kratom and its alkaloids remain unscheduled at the federal level, but that status is currently under active review. The short answer is that it depends on where you live and what type of product you're buying. However, not everyone supports regulation or a ban. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A new push aims to regulate a popular drug sold in smoke shops around Tennessee. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners.

US health officials crack down on kratom-related products

The substance’s effect on an individual is highly variable, depending on the dose, concentration, method of ingestion, and the user’s personal medical and drug-taking history. Kratom advocates say the negative press and push to criminalize kratom are fueled more by corporate greed than actual health concerns. Stories of relatives coming home to find a loved one dead, a cocktail of kratom and orange juice in their hand, darken the all-natural image suppliers have concocted over the years. Medical examiners pointed to a lethal dose of mitragynine, the chemical compound known as kratom, as his cause of death.

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The legality of kratom varies by country and, in the US, by state. Desired effects range from a cozy, relaxed feeling to those of focus and clarity, though everyone experiences botanical substances differently. Both kratom and kava's active ingredients bind with receptors in the brain, impacting how we feel. If you have addiction issues, do not consume this product. Certified third-party lab testing ensures that your kava and kratom shots are pure, potent, and free from contaminants such as yeast, mold, coliform, salmonella, staphylococcus, E. Our Mood Boost Kratom & Kava shot blends premium kratom, kava, ashwagandha, L-theanine, and GABA for the ultimate balanced boost.