Kratom products are now widely available at gas stations, smoke shops, convenience stores, and online. They are marketed for effects ranging from increased energy and focus to relaxation, pain relief and help with opioid withdrawal. Unfortunately, products sold as “kratom” are not all the same.
The FDA has raised particular concerns about products designed to contain much higher concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) than occur naturally in kratom leaf. Natural kratom leaves contain small amounts of 7-OH. These manufactured 7-OH products can produce powerful opioid-like effects. The FDA describes these products as “novel potent opioid products” and warns that they have not been proven safe or effective for any use.
Product strength and labeling can vary considerably, making it difficult for consumers to know exactly what they are taking. In a 2026 study of 44 commercially available kratom-derived products, researchers found that 85% contained active chemical compounds in amounts that did not match their labels. Some products also contained compounds that were not disclosed.
Kratom and concentrated 7-OH products have been associated with addiction, withdrawal, seizures, liver toxicity, respiratory depression and, in some circumstances, death. The risks may be particularly serious with concentrated products or when kratom is combined with alcohol, prescription medications or other drugs
Schlesinger Law Offices is investigating serious injuries and deaths involving concentrated kratom extracts and products containing added or concentrated 7-OH. If you are unfamiliar with these products, how they work or the risks they may present, the following answers address some of the most common questions about kratom.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom comes from Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia. The leaves have traditionally been chewed or used in tea. The leaves contain naturally occurring compounds that affect the brain, including mitragynine and 7-OH. These compounds interact with receptors in the brain. Users have reported both stimulant-like effects (increased energy, alertness), and opioid-like effects (relaxation, pain relief). The FDA has not approved kratom drugs for any medical use.
Today, a range of products can be found that are sold under the kratom name:
- Traditional Kratom Leaf
These products contain dried or crushed leaves, often sold as loose powder, tea, or powder-filled capsules. Mitragynine is the main active compound in the leaf; 7-OH is present only in trace amounts. - Concentrated Kratom Extracts
These products are made by separating and concentrating compounds from the leaf. They may be sold as liquid shots, extract powders, capsules, or tablets. Unlike ordinary leaf powder, an extract can deliver a concentrated amount of active compounds in a small serving. However, not every extract is a high-7-OH product. - Products With Added or Concentrated 7-OH
These products may be sold simply as kratom, but contain substantially more 7-OH than naturally occurs in the leaf. Manufacturers may use chemical processing to convert mitragynine into 7-OH. The resulting products are sold in many forms, including tablets, gummies, and shots.
Is Kratom an Opioid?
To answer that question, it helps to understand the difference between an opiate and an opioid. An opiate is a drug derived directly from the opium poppy. Morphine and codeine are familiar examples. An opioid is a broader term that includes any substance that activates the body’s opioid receptors and produces opiate-like effects. Opioids include all opiates as well as heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl and methadone.
Kratom is not an opiate because it doesn’t come from the poppy. However, the FDA describes 7-OH as a potent opioid.
What Serious Health Problems Have Been Reported?
Health reports describe several kinds of harm involving both general kratom products and concentrated 7-OH products including:
- Slowed Breathing and Overdose: Respiratory depression (dangerously slow breathing), a common symptom of overdoses, has been identified by the FDA as a serious concern with 7-OH.
- Addiction and Severe Withdrawal: Kratom and 7-OH products can lead to dependence and substance use disorder. The FDA has reported cases involving cravings, increased use, tolerance and continued use despite harmful consequences. Withdrawal symptoms may include body aches, restlessness, fatigue, irritability and cold sweats.
- Seizures and Heart-Related Problems: Poison control centers have reported seizures, coma, high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms following high-dose kratom use or overdose. The FDA has also received reports of seizures associated with 7-OH products.
- Liver Injury: Kratom has been linked to rare cases of acute liver injury. Reported symptoms include fatigue, nausea, itching, dark urine and jaundice. The injury can be severe, although patients usually recover after discontinuing kratom. This evidence concerns kratom products generally, not exclusively concentrated 7-OH.
- Death: Kratom and concentrated 7-OH products have been linked to fatal overdoses. A 2026 study identified 38 Florida deaths in which medical examiners listed mitragynine toxicity as a cause of death and found no toxic levels of other substances. High doses of 7-OH can suppress breathing and cause death.
How Can Schlesinger Law Offices Help?
Schlesinger Law Offices is investigating serious injury and wrongful death cases involving concentrated kratom and 7-OH products. This includes respiratory arrest, serious seizures, liver failure, serious heart problems and addiction requiring inpatient treatment.
Our attorneys can review the product and medical records, investigate how it was labeled and marketed, and identify the companies that may be responsible. Potential claims may concern inadequate warnings, defective products or misleading marketing. We evaluate the facts and evidence in each case to determine whether legal action may be appropriate.
If you or a family member suffered a serious health problem after using concentrated kratom or a 7-OH product, contact Schlesinger Law Offices today. Your case review is free and confidential. There are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Note: You do not need a purchase receipt to request a review. Save any remaining product, packaging, photographs and purchase records. Tell us about the treatment received and whether medical or toxicology reports mention kratom or 7-OH.
Our current investigation does not include claims involving only traditional leaf products. If you are unsure what was used, provide the product name or a photograph so we can help identify it.
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