What Is 7-OH? A Kratom-Derived Compound, Explained

7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is a minor alkaloid and active metabolite of Mitragyna speciosa, the kratom tree. In raw kratom leaf, 7-OH typically makes up less than 0.05% of total alkaloid content — a trace amount. The body also produces small amounts of 7-OH when it metabolizes mitragynine, kratom's dominant alkaloid.

Over the last few years, manufacturers have learned to isolate 7-OH or chemically convert mitragynine into 7-OH, then press it into tablets, dissolve it into shots, or infuse it into gummies. A single tablet can deliver more 7-OH than dozens of grams of raw leaf. That concentration is what makes these products fundamentally different from traditional kratom — and what drives the dependence and overdose concerns clinicians are seeing on Long Island and across New York.

Traditional leaf kratom contains a complex mix of alkaloids. Concentrated 7-OH products (tablets, shots, gummies) isolate or boost the most opioid-active compound, producing a much stronger and faster onset — and a much harder withdrawal.

7-OH is a partial agonist at the mu-opioid receptor — the same receptor activated by morphine, oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, and buprenorphine. Laboratory studies estimate 7-OH binds the receptor roughly 10–30 times more potently than mitragynine and is comparable in potency, on a per-milligram basis, to morphine at that receptor.

Because the dose in a single concentrated tablet or shot is far higher than anything the body would encounter from chewing or brewing leaf, the brain adapts quickly. Tolerance can develop within days to weeks of daily use, and stopping abruptly produces a withdrawal syndrome that closely resembles short-acting opioid withdrawal.

In New York, concentrated 7-OH products are widely available at gas stations, smoke shops, vape stores, and online retailers. Common formats include:

• Sublingual or swallowable tablets, often marketed by milligram strength.
• Liquid shots in 1–2 oz bottles.
• Gummies and chewables, sometimes co-formulated with mitragynine.
• Powder concentrates sold as "research" or "extract."

These products are not FDA-approved for any medical use, are not standardized between brands, and labeling has been found in independent testing to misrepresent actual 7-OH content. Two products marketed at the same dose can deliver very different effects.

The main clinical concerns with concentrated 7-OH are dependence, withdrawal, and overdose risk when combined with other depressants. Daily use can produce opioid-use-disorder-level dependence within weeks. Withdrawal typically includes anxiety, restlessness, sweating, muscle aches, GI upset, and insomnia — and can last longer than many people expect.

Fatal overdose from 7-OH alone is uncommon but is documented, and the risk rises sharply when 7-OH is combined with alcohol, benzodiazepines, sleep aids, or prescription opioids. There is no reliable ceiling on respiratory depression the way there is with buprenorphine.

Many people with 7-OH dependence respond well to the same treatments used for opioid use disorder, including medical taper, buprenorphine (Suboxone), and counseling. See our companion guides on Suboxone for kratom use disorder and what to expect during kratom withdrawal.

If you or someone you love is using concentrated 7-OH products daily and struggling to stop, treatment is available across Nassau and Suffolk County. A typical first step is an assessment with a clinician familiar with opioid use disorder — many programs that treat oxycodone or fentanyl dependence are equipped to treat 7-OH dependence as well. For a confidential conversation about local options, call the Long Island Rehab Helpline at 844-338-6969 or visit the 7-OH addiction and treatment page.