What Is 7OH (7-Hydroxymitragynine) — And How Is It Different from Kratom?

If you’ve heard of kratom, you’ve likely come across the term “7-OH” or 7-hydroxymitragynine. It’s one of the most powerful compounds in the kratom plant, and it plays a major role in how kratom affects your body, including how addictive it can become.

So what exactly is 7-OH? And how is it different from kratom as a whole?

7-Hydroxymitragynine's (7-OH) Chemical Structure

For starters, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in small amounts in the kratom leaf. Despite being present in very low concentrations, it’s incredibly potent — acting as a powerful opioid receptor agonist, similar to morphine.

In fact, 7-OH is considered one of the primary drivers of kratom’s euphoric, pain-relieving, and sedative effects. While kratom contains over 40 active alkaloids, the two most important are Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). The below table demonstrates how they differ.

	Mitragynine	7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
Amount in kratom	High	Very low (but highly potent)
Potency	Mild	Very strong
Effects	Stimulating, amphetatmine- like	More sedating, opiate-like
Half-life	Long Lasting	Extremely Short Lasting

As the above table shows, the half life of 7-OH is extremely short. This means that it leaves your system quickly and the effects wear off fast. That is why individuals feel the need to take so many doses per day. This fast clearance contributes to the cycle of dependence, as users try to maintain a baseline and avoid crashing between doses.

Many people think kratom is “natural” and therefore safe — but the presence of 7-OH makes it functionally similar to opioids in how it interacts with the brain.

If you’ve found yourself needing kratom several times per day to feel normal, 7-OH is likely playing a major role.

The good news? Detoxing from kratom and breaking free of the 7-OH cycle is completely possible with proper medical help. At Klear Recovery, we use safe, prescription-based comfort medications to manage withdrawal and help you feel stable again. All under the privacy of your own home and in under one week.