US legal status checked on 10 October 2026
Kratom leaf and concentrated 7-OH products act on opioid receptors. 7-OH is much stronger than the leaf, and stopping it can bring severe withdrawal. We know of no published study of ibogaine in people who use either. At IbogaQuest, ibogaine never follows kratom or 7-OH directly: a medical detox comes first.
In withdrawal, or reading for someone you love? Go straight to the two routes ↓. Need help right now in the US? There is a free, 24/7 helpline ↓.
This page summarizes what formal research has documented. It is not everything known about iboga: the Bwiti tradition and decades of clinical experience are knowledge too. Before you read: what science sees, and what it can’t.
What is 7-OH, and how is it different from kratom leaf?
7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, is one of the alkaloids of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a Southeast Asian tree. The leaf holds it only in traces, and the liver makes a little more from mitragynine, the leaf’s main alkaloid.
The products sold as “7-OH” (tablets, “shots”, films) are something else: concentrated, semi-synthetic preparations made from mitragynine. They often carry far more 7-OH than any leaf. A 7-OH product is not “natural kratom”.
Some products sold as kratom, often labelled “pseudo”, contain MGPI, a related compound that is stronger still. Labels and real content can differ.
How strong is 7-OH compared with morphine?
In lab cells, 7-OH is about ten times stronger than mitragynine at the human mu-opioid receptor, the one morphine acts on. The phrase “more potent than morphine”, used by the FDA in July 2025, rests on studies in mice. Also in mice, 7-OH’s effect on breathing keeps growing as the dose goes up.
Someone using these products is taking an opioid-acting substance of uncertain strength.
What does 7-OH withdrawal feel like?
Published case reports describe a full opioid-type withdrawal after regular 7-OH use: sleeplessness, muscle aches, anxiety, sweating and an upset stomach, sometimes severe enough to need hospital care. Fast tolerance and frequent redosing usually come first. Withdrawal after kratom leaf is generally milder.
Is it dangerous to stop kratom or 7-OH on your own?
It can be. Stopping concentrated 7-OH can bring severe withdrawal.
The bigger danger comes after some days without it. Tolerance drops, and going back to the old amount, or to a stronger product, can lead to an overdose.
If you need help now in the US, SAMHSA’s National Helpline is free, confidential and open 24/7, in English and Spanish: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It is a treatment referral and information service.
If you are thinking about stopping or cutting down, talk first with a clinician who knows you.
Why can’t ibogaine be given right after kratom or 7-OH?
A medical team has four things to weigh:
- An opioid-acting substance still in the body. The 2016 clinical guideline for ibogaine warns that ibogaine strengthens opioids still in the body. 7-OH acts on the same receptor.
- It stays for days. In volunteers who took kratom leaf powder, mitragynine took about 2 to 3 days to fall by half in the blood.
- The heart. In lab cells, mitragynine blocks the same heart potassium channel that ibogaine blocks. More on what ibogaine does to the heart.
- The liver. Kratom is a probable cause of liver injury, and the liver matters before ibogaine.
After ibogaine, tolerance drops even further. The 2016 guideline says it falls to that of someone who has never used opioids, so going back to an old amount is more dangerous still.
Is 7-OH legal in the US?
US federal status as of 10 October 2026 – 7-OH is not yet federally controlled. On 9 October 2026, DEA said it will issue a new notice aimed at concentrated products. – MGPI and two related compounds have been temporarily in Schedule I since 26 August 2026. – Kratom leaf and mitragynine are not federally scheduled. – State laws vary and are not covered here.
Laws are changing quickly. For ibogaine’s own legal status, see is ibogaine legal?
How does IbogaQuest prepare someone who uses kratom or 7-OH?
Before the retreat there is a medical detox, so the move to ibogaine is safe. It is part of the program, and it means you arrive at the retreat ready. There are two routes, depending on what you take.
| If you use kratom powder | If you use 7-OH |
|---|---|
| Before the retreat | Before the retreat |
| 10-15 days | 21 days |
| 1. A medical detox before the retreat | 1. First, at home and guided by our team, you move from 7-OH to kratom powder |
| 2. The retreat | 2. A medical detox before the retreat |
| 3. The retreat | |
| Why: so the move to ibogaine is safe. | Why: 7-OH acts much more strongly in the body than kratom, so we go in steps and take more time. |
With 7-OH, the first step happens at home, but never alone: our team guides you through it. Both routes are part of the program, and the medical detox is something we take care of.
Not sure which route fits what you take (capsules, extracts, “shots”, “pseudo”)? Ask us before you apply.
If you already take a prescribed medicine for dependence, tell us before you apply.
Like everyone, you go through our full medical screening first: how our screening works.
After the retreat. Ibogaine lowers tolerance sharply. Before you leave, we explain what that means for you in your discharge assessment, and we give it to you in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is ibogaine a “cure” for kratom or 7-OH addiction?
No. Ibogaine is not a cure for any dependence. Where it has helped, it works better as an interruption, and what happens after treatment matters as much as the treatment itself. More on ibogaine for substance dependence.
Can I go straight from kratom or 7-OH to ibogaine?
No. It isn’t safe, so we don’t do it. The reasons are above.
Will a drug test show 7-OH?
Not always. Standard lab tests detect mitragynine but can miss 7-OH and MGPI. Tell the medical team everything you take, by product name, and keep the labels.
Not sure which route fits what you take, or what is really in your product? Ask our medical team before you apply.
Contact us · US 1 (802) 748 4600 · MX +52 (777) 450 1946
When you are ready: apply.
This page is information, not medical advice. Ibogaine is a Schedule I substance in the US and is not approved by the FDA for any use. It carries real risks, the heart first among them, and should only be given after medical screening and under medical supervision.
Reviewed by the IbogaQuest medical team · Last reviewed 10 October 2026
Sources
- Kruegel AC, et al. 7-Hydroxymitragynine is an active metabolite of mitragynine and a key mediator of its analgesic effects. ACS Cent Sci 2019. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.9b00141
- Huestis MA, et al. Human mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine pharmacokinetics after single and multiple daily doses of oral encapsulated dried kratom leaf powder. Molecules 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29050984
- Wightman RS, Hu D. A case of 7-hydroxymitragynine use requiring inpatient medically managed withdrawal. J Addict Med 2026. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000001558
- Henningfield JE, et al. Kratom withdrawal: discussions and conclusions of a scientific expert forum. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100142
- Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance. Clinical Guidelines for Ibogaine-Assisted Detoxification, v1.1, 2016. https://ibogaineguidelines.com/
- FDA. Press release on restricting 7-OH products, 29 July 2025. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-steps-restrict-7-oh-opioid-products-threatening-american-consumers
- US Department of Justice. Updates on the emergency scheduling actions for 7-OH and related substances, 9 October 2026. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-announces-updates-emergency-scheduling-actions-7-oh-and-related-opioid
- SAMHSA. National Helpline. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline