Posted by Both opoids and 7-hydroxymitragynine are used as analgesics. The invention of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic opioids promised powerful pain relief but with a heavy risk of side effects and addiction. Kratom started becoming popular in the United States in the 1990s, and alongside it, the extract of a lesser-known alkaloid compound: 7-hydroxymitragynine.
7-OH tablets are often semi-synthetic. One way of extracting 7-OH is to simply extract the pure alkaloid compound of 7-hydroxymitragynine. Instead of extracting the less than 2 percent of this from kratom, however, the much more abundant mitragynine is converted to 7-OH through a deliberate chemical reaction.
Americans have a cornucopia of pain relievers. Both 7-OH and prescription opioids bind to opioid receptors in the brain and 7-OH is an opioid. However, their effects on pain and the user differ. Let’s learn about how they effect the brain, common risks and side effects, and why someone might choose one over another.
Opioids: The Start of An Epidemic
Prescription opioids derive from the opium poppy plant, whose analgesic effects were discovered thousands of years ago. Commonly, opium pods were smoked, but this practice was expensive and had to be done for long periods to achieve pain relief. Opium also proved to be highly addictive even in its natural state.
The active compound morphine was isolated in the 1800s, and that led to more controlled and consistent dosing. When the hypodermic syringe was invented in the mid-19th century, it allowed for immediate and extremely effective pain relief by injecting morphine directly into the bloodstream.
Originally, the purpose of taking opioids, whether prescription or illicit, was to manage moderate to severe pain. Since it also induces euphoria and is highly addictive, however, misusing opioids has led to many injuries and deaths. For example, brain injuries can result in opioid use, and opioid use can result in brain injuries.
People dealing with opioid use disorder are usually prescribed methadone or suboxone, which work differently from each other on the brain and in reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, they have just as much potential for addiction as the original opioids the user wishes to withdraw from.
7-OH: Fulfilling a Demand for Pain Relief
It is easy to see why there would be a demand for alternatives to prescription opioids as well as more dangerous illicit opioids. 7-OH is also commonly used to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, making it an alternative to opioid use disorder medications.
There is a more direct reason for seeking 7-OH as an alternative to prescription opioids: Lack of accessibility. Chronic pain sufferers cannot get the pain management they need. They then turn to non-prescription opioids because the same regulations that are in place to reduce addiction and abuse hinder them in getting a sufficient, regular supply for daily use and long-term management.
Kratom made its way to the West from Southeast Asia in the 90s, and brought all of its forms with it. Kratom powders and capsules and 7-OH tablets and shots are the most common ways to find it. Several shops and retail partners sell kratom and 7-OH products, and there are even more shops in the form of online websites to make them even more accessible.
Even so, since 7-OH is an opioid, it presents risks and side effects that resemble those of prescription opioids. Users must consider which choice is preferable for pain relief: 7-OH or opioids?
7-OH vs. Opioids: Pros and Cons of Each
| 7-OH | Opioids | |
| Brain chemistry | Partial agonist at μ-opioidμ-opioid receptors; impairs reward system | Full or partial agonist depending on drug |
| Potency | 13 to 40 more times more potent than morphine | Morphine is the standard benchmark for potency |
| Risks (with long-term use) | ToleranceDependenceAddictionMisuse/abuseOverdoseLiver damage/failureSeizures | ToleranceDependenceAddictionMisuse/abuseOverdoseIncreased pain sensitivityImmune system impairmentCardiovascular changes |
| Side effects | ConstipationNauseaSedationRespiratory depressionHormonal changes | ConstipationNauseaSedationRespiratory depressionHormonal changes |
| Availability | Retail stores and online | Prescription only with illicit street forms |
| Regulation | Unregulated | Highly regulated |
Looking for Premium 7-OH? Choose Real Botanicals
Typical opioids are either largely inaccessible due to prescription regulations or they are illicit and therefore dangerous. 7-OH is a modern, increasingly popular alternative that’s accessible in retail shops, gas stations, and online stores, but it’s unregulated. Many vendors enhance 7-OH to be even more potent than normal, leading new users to believe that higher dosages are acceptable.
Real Botanicals 7-OH is the superior choice in such a murky market. They have their own private laboratory and patented ChromaPure extraction and purification process in addition to the third-party lab testing that responsible users expect at a minimum. You don’t need to second-guess with regards to sourcing, manufacturing, or testing. If you’re looking for a trustworthy vendor with premium 7-OH you can’t find anywhere else, consider Real Botanicals 7-Hydro products.
You might be interested in reading “Dosing 7-OH Safely.“