Posted by Botanicals like 7-OH, Pseudo, and Oxonol can affect sleep in meaningful ways. There are direct and indirect effects to consider because they all affect opioid receptors that have systems throughout the body to regulate mood, pain, and coordination.
In some people, they may promote better sleep. For other people, they may cause broken sleep, suppression of REM sleep, or induce rebound insomnia with repeated use.
How can you tell without having to experience them first? To tell whether their effects on someone’s sleep is positive or negative, we must look at a user’s sleep in the short-term and the long term.
Opioids’ Effects and Risks
All opioids have side effects, even when carefully dosed:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Lower natural endorphin activity
- Unstable mood between doses
- Hormonal disruption (with long-term, heavy use)
Long-term use increases the risk of:
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Tolerance development of escalating doses
- Physical dependence
- Lower mood at baseline level
We can extend these side effects and risks to 7-OH, Oxonol, and Pseudo. However, there are some important differences. Oxonol and Pseudo are 7-OH alternatives, and one of their benefits is fewer side effects and lower risks – not just greater legality.
Effects and Risks from 7-OH, Oxonol and Pseudo
To compare the side effects:
- 7-OH: Drowsiness, respiratory depression, nausea, constipation, GI upset
- Oxonol: Less respiratory depression, drowsiness, nausea, or GI upset
- Pseudo: Less respiratory depression, nausea, or GI upset
There are also the risks to consider:
- 7-OH: Highest risk of tolerance and physical dependency
- Oxonol: Lower risk of tolerance and physical dependency (may need redosing)
- Pseudo: Lowest risk of tolerance and physical dependency
Effects from 7-OH on Sleep
7-OH may serve as a temporary sleep aid for some people. It’s a full agonist at mu-opioid receptors and a competitive antagonist of delta- and kappa- opioid receptors. When talking about taking a botanical before sleep, I mean 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
Short-term effects
7-OH can make it easier to fall asleep with:
- Pain relief
- Sedation
- Heavy-body relaxation
- Calming effect that dampens anxiety
Long-term effects
With repeated, heavy daily use, 7-OH can:
- Suppress REM sleep
- Shorten total sleep time (you’re supposed to sleep 6-8 hours a night)
- Increase sleep disruption (waking up)
- Worsen sleep quality
- Cause vivid dreams during rebounds
- Lead to quick tolerance development
- Lead to insomnia from dependence
- Foggy, flat next-day feeling
Effects from Oxonol and Pseudo on Sleep
Pseudo is a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist and delta-opioid receptor antagonist. Oxonol is a partial agonist of all three opioid receptors (mu, delta, and kappa) with a special focus on delta and kappa. These differences account for their unique physical sensation of heavy and grounding for Pseudo and light and smooth for Oxonol, as well as how strongly they alleviate pain.
Short-term effects
- Oxonol: Moderate sedation and pain relief, smooth feeling, fewer sleep disturbances
- Pseudo: Heavy sedation and pain relief, grounding feeling, fewer sleep disturbances, and less respiratory depression
Long-term effects
- Oxonol: Suppress REM sleep, reduce deep slow-wave sleep, subtly fragment sleep
- Pseudo: Suppress REM sleep, reduce restorative sleep, produce insomnia from withdrawal; best for power naps
Comparison Table
| Botanical | Opioid Receptor Action | Onset | Duration | Sleep Effects | Concerns |
| 7-OH | Full agonist at MOR; DOR and KOR competitive antagonist | 15-45 minutes (up to 15 for shot, up to 45 minutes for chewable tablet) | 4-6 hours | Fast sedation but broken sleep, REM suppression | Respiration depression and dependence |
| Oxonol | Partial agonist at MOR, DOR, and KOR | 30-60 minutes (chewable tablets) | 3-5 hours | Deeper, longer, more restorative sleep | Morning grogginess |
| Pseudo | Partial MOR agonist and DOR antagonist | 20 minutes (chewable tablets) | 6-8 hours | Nodding off (short drowsiness and then alertness); best for power naps | Anxiety, rebound insomnia |
Which Botanical Has the Fewest Negative Effects on Sleep?
There’s no “best” botanical out of these three with the fewest negative effects. Some rules apply regardless of which one you choose:
- Take at least 3 hours before bedtime to avoid next-day grogginess
- Stay hydrated
- Take a magnesium supplement
- Never mix with depressants
For you, the best botanical that will wreak the least havoc on getting zzz’s will be the one you:
- Use the least (especially if it’s more effective for sleep or pain)
- Use at the lowest effective dosage
- Avoid taking close to bedtime
So if one botanical is negatively affecting your nightly rest, you may want to rotate with the others to compare.
7-OH, Oxonol, and Pseudo: An Assortment Found Nowhere Else
7-OH, Oxonol, and Pseudo are each effective botanicals in their own right. You wouldn’t want to use them every day, especially as a sleep aid. However, they can occasionally be helpful when you’re having a hard time hitting the hay, or pain is keeping you up at night.
You’ve probably heard about 7-OH and Pseudo available from other vendors, but did you know about Oxonol from Real Botanicals? It’s a proprietary 7-OH alternative made from an enhanced kratom alkaloid blend. Both different from 7-OH and Pseudo, it offers a unique and potent alternative for moderate pain relief and a mood boost.
See also “Switching Between 7-OH, Oxonol, or Pseudo? Here’s What You Should Know”
You might be interested in “Why Pseudoindoxyl is a good alternative to 7-OH.“