Tuscola County, Mich. — Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Morrone and Tuscola County Sheriff Ryan Robinson are warning residents about the risks of kratom and its potent alkaloid, 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Kratom is an herbal product widely sold online, in smoke shops and at gas stations, and is marketed as a “natural alternative” for chronic pain and opioid withdrawal. It has no FDA-approved uses and may not be marketed as a dietary supplement.

Officials say poison control centers are receiving more calls related to kratom. The plant contains the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). At low doses, mitragynine acts like a stimulant and can cause anxiety and agitation. At higher doses, it produces opioid-like effects and — according to the officials — can be 13 times more potent than morphine. 7-OH is reported to be about 10 times more potent than mitragynine. Other symptoms tied to kratom exposure include palpitations, seizures, nausea and abdominal pain.

Morrone and Robinson recommend administering naloxone to reverse respiratory depression in suspected kratom overdoses, and they urge anyone experiencing or handling kratom cases to report them to Poison Control Centers.

Regular kratom use can lead to an opioid-like withdrawal syndrome, liver toxicity, seizures, dependence and neonatal abstinence syndrome.

To report a suspected case or for questions, call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222. For more information from the FDA on kratom risks, visit fda.gov/news-events.

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