Key Points
- Real cat’s claw is not 7-OH. Genuine cat’s claw, usually Uncaria tomentosa, is a non-intoxicating herbal supplement that is not expected to produce opioid-like effects.
- The concern is what is being sold under the cat’s claw name. Public-health officials have identified products marketed as “Cat’s Claw” that contained potent opioid compounds not disclosed on the label.
- Utah testing found mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15 in Buzzers Cat’s Claw tablets. These are 7-OH-related opioid compounds, not ordinary cat’s claw.
- Similar products are already appearing in Middle Tennessee. A Warren County prevention coalition documented Buzzers and KLAZ “Cat’s Claw Extract” tablets in McMinnville-area stores after Tennessee’s kratom restrictions took effect.
- Labels claiming “no kratom” or “no 7-OH” do not necessarily tell the full story. Utah Poison Control has specifically warned that some products may be misleadingly labeled while containing opioid-active compounds.
- These substances can produce dependence, withdrawal, and potentially life-threatening opioid effects.
- How Brooks Helps: Brooks Healing Center provides medical detox, residential treatment, Medication-Assisted Treatment, PHP, and continued recovery support for people struggling with kratom, 7-OH, opioids, and emerging substances.
What Is Happening With “Cat’s Claw” Products?
Cat’s claw normally refers to an entirely legitimate herbal product.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health identifies cat’s claw primarily as Uncaria tomentosa or Uncaria guianensis, woody vines native to the Amazon and other tropical regions of Central and South America. Cat’s claw has historically been marketed for inflammation, arthritis, immune support, and other health concerns, although strong human evidence supporting those uses remains limited.
That is not the cat’s claw story raising alarms in 2026.
Public-health agencies are now warning about flavored tablets and similar products being marketed under the “Cat’s Claw” name despite evidence that some contain potent opioid-active chemicals associated with the rapidly evolving 7-hydroxymitragynine market.
The difference matters.
Someone buying traditional Uncaria tomentosa from a health-food store is dealing with a very different product from someone purchasing brightly packaged “Cat’s Claw Extract” tablets from a smoke shop, convenience store, vape store, or online retailer that previously specialized in kratom or 7-OH products.
In some cases, investigators have now confirmed that the herbal branding did not accurately describe what was inside.
Officials Found Opioid Compounds in Products Labeled “Cat’s Claw”
On July 30, 2026, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and Utah Poison Control Center issued a warning about Buzzers-brand Cat’s Claw tablets.
State testing found that the products contained two opioid-active compounds:
- Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, also called MGPI
- MGM-15, also known as dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine
Neither compound is ordinary cat’s claw.
Utah officials reported that Buzzers Cat’s Claw tablets had been associated with several severe health incidents and an investigation involving a recent death. They advised consumers not to purchase or use the products.
That finding dramatically changes how consumers should understand the current cat’s claw market.
The problem is not that scientists suddenly discovered Uncaria tomentosa behaves like a powerful opioid.
The problem is that an herbal name can be placed on packaging that does not accurately communicate the pharmacology of what is inside.
Is “Cat’s Claw” Really 7-OH?
Sometimes people describe these products as “7-OH disguised as cat’s claw.”
That gets close to the issue, but the actual chemistry is more complicated.
Utah’s confirmed testing of Buzzers tablets did not identify ordinary cat’s claw plus straightforward 7-hydroxymitragynine. Instead, testing identified MGM-15 and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, two closely related compounds from the same rapidly developing family of potent kratom- and 7-OH-related opioids.
Utah Poison Control had previously warned that adulterated products marketed as cat’s claw or kava were suspected of containing substances including:
- 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH
- Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl
- MGM-15
- MGM-16
The agency also warned that some product labels may fail to disclose these substances and may even claim that a product contains no kratom or 7-OH.
So the most accurate takeaway is not that every cat’s claw product secretly contains 7-OH.
It is that an emerging group of products is being marketed using cat’s claw branding while potentially containing 7-OH itself, closely related synthetic or semi-synthetic opioid compounds, or other ingredients that the consumer cannot reliably identify from the front of the package.
This Is Already a Middle Tennessee Issue
This is particularly relevant for Brooks Healing Center because the issue is not confined to Utah or internet retailers.
Tennessee’s Matthew Davenport’s Law took effect on July 1, 2026, changing the state’s laws surrounding kratom and its associated products.
Within weeks, the Warren County Prevention and Intervention Coalition reported seeing a new category of products in McMinnville and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities.
Coalition members photographed flavored chewable tablets branded as Buzzers and KLAZ, both carrying “Cat’s Claw Extract” labeling. According to the coalition, they appeared in stores shortly after kratom products disappeared from shelves.
That timing deserves attention.
McMinnville is not hundreds of miles away from the communities Brooks serves. It is part of the same broader Middle Tennessee region where Brooks works with individuals and families affected by substance use.
The Warren County coalition was careful to note that the products observed locally had not been laboratory tested in Tennessee, so it would be inaccurate to claim that every local product contains an undisclosed opioid.
However, one of the same brand names observed in McMinnville — Buzzers — had already been tested by Utah authorities and found to contain MGM-15 and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl.
That is a significant warning signal.
Why Did These Products Appear After Kratom and 7-OH Restrictions?
The market for psychoactive products rarely disappears simply because one specific compound becomes restricted.
Instead, manufacturers may reformulate products, introduce new chemical analogs, shift terminology, or move toward compounds that consumers and regulators know less about.
That pattern is particularly visible around 7-OH.
7-hydroxymitragynine occurs naturally in very small amounts in kratom, but concentrated commercial 7-OH products are substantially different from traditional kratom leaf. The FDA describes high-concentration 7-OH products as novel potent opioid products and has warned consumers to avoid them.
The federal government has also responded to the next generation of related substances.
On August 25, 2026, the Justice Department announced emergency scheduling of three potent opioid compounds:
- Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl
- MGM-15
- MGM-16
The DEA placed the three substances into Schedule I on a temporary basis beginning August 26, 2026. Federal officials cited their opioid activity, abuse potential, lack of accepted medical use, and risks including dependence and respiratory depression.
Meanwhile, the federal scheduling process for concentrated 7-OH itself has also been underway, with regulators proposing a threshold intended to distinguish high-concentration or manufactured 7-OH products from trace amounts naturally occurring in botanical material.
The marketplace is evolving at roughly the same time regulators are trying to catch up. That is why simply reading the large words printed on the front of a package may no longer be enough.
MGM-15 Is Especially Important to Understand
The discovery of MGM-15 in a product labeled Cat’s Claw deserves particular attention.
MGM-15 is also known as dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine. It is chemically related to 7-OH and acts on the opioid system.
The Department of Justice describes MGM-15, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, and MGM-16 as potent mu-opioid receptor agonists. That means they activate the same primary opioid receptor involved in the effects of substances such as morphine, heroin, fentanyl, and other opioids, although individual compounds differ substantially in their pharmacology and potency.
The concern therefore goes far beyond inaccurate supplement labeling.
A consumer may believe they are trying a plant-based wellness product while unknowingly being exposed to a substance capable of producing opioid effects.
That can affect:
- Tolerance
- Dependence
- Withdrawal
- Impaired consciousness
- Respiratory function
- Overdose risk
- Relapse risk for someone with a history of opioid addiction
And because some of these compounds are comparatively new to the consumer market, the medical community has substantially less human safety data than it has for established medications or even better-known drugs of misuse.
Why “No 7-OH” on a Label May Not Be Reassuring
This may be one of the most important lessons from the cat’s claw issue.
A package could technically advertise “No 7-OH” while containing another opioid-active compound that is chemically related to 7-OH.
For example, MGM-15 is not identical to 7-hydroxymitragynine. Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl is not identical to 7-hydroxymitragynine either. That means a consumer searching specifically for the words “7-OH” could miss the larger risk.
Utah Poison Control went even further, warning that misleading products may fail to list opioid compounds at all and that some products may specifically claim not to contain kratom or 7-OH.
This is why Brooks believes emerging substances should be evaluated based on what the product actually contains and what it does in the body, rather than the botanical or wellness language printed on the front.
Real Cat’s Claw Is Different
It is important not to turn this into an inaccurate warning about every cat’s claw supplement.
Traditional cat’s claw is a real botanical.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, commercial cat’s claw supplements generally use Uncaria tomentosa. The herb has been studied primarily for possible inflammatory and immune-related effects. It is not described as producing the opioid-like intoxication associated with 7-OH, MGM-15, or mitragynine pseudoindoxyl.
Traditional cat’s claw can still have side effects and drug interactions, and “natural” does not automatically mean safe.
But that is a separate issue.
If a brightly flavored tablet marketed as “Cat’s Claw Extract” produces pronounced opioid-like effects, eliminates opioid withdrawal, causes nodding or heavy sedation, or leads to escalating use and withdrawal, consumers should not assume that those effects are simply properties of ordinary cat’s claw.
Can These “Cat’s Claw” Products Cause Addiction?
Products containing undisclosed opioid-active compounds can create a very different risk profile from genuine cat’s claw.
The FDA has received reports of harms associated with concentrated 7-OH products including:
- Addiction
- Withdrawal
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Insomnia
- Seizures
Reported withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, body aches, fatigue, irritability, and cold sweats.
The newly scheduled 7-OH-related compounds raise similar concerns. The Justice Department specifically cited the potential for dependence and respiratory depression when announcing emergency scheduling of mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16.
This is particularly concerning for people who previously developed dependence on kratom or 7-OH.
Someone may purchase a cat’s claw-branded product believing they have moved away from kratom or 7-OH, only to discover that they are still using a substance acting on the opioid system.
For someone in recovery, that can become a serious problem quickly.
Warning Signs a “Cat’s Claw” Product May Not Be an Ordinary Herbal Supplement
Packaging alone cannot determine what is inside a product, but several factors should prompt additional caution.
Products deserve greater scrutiny when they are:
- Sold as flavored chewable tablets or shots rather than conventional herbal capsules, powders, or teas
- Sold in smoke shops, vape stores, gas stations, or locations previously selling 7-OH products
- Marketed directly as replacements or alternatives for kratom or 7-OH
- Advertised using vague terms such as “advanced botanical extract” without clearly identifying standardized ingredients
- Promoted for effects that sound opioid-like
- Claimed to rapidly relieve kratom or opioid withdrawal
- Producing effects dramatically different from those associated with ordinary cat’s claw
- Sold under a brand previously connected with adulterated products
None of those factors alone proves that a product contains an illegal or undisclosed substance.
Laboratory testing is required to determine exactly what a tablet contains.
But the combination of recent overdose cases, confirmed adulteration, shifting product names, and the rapid appearance of cat’s claw products in the same retail channels previously occupied by kratom makes caution appropriate.
What Does an Overdose From These Products Look Like?
Because MGM-15 and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl act on opioid receptors, a serious reaction may resemble an opioid overdose.
Warning signs may include:
- A person who cannot be awakened
- Very slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Extreme sedation or loss of consciousness
- Blue or gray lips or fingertips
- Abnormal snoring or gurgling
- Pinpoint pupils
If someone cannot be awakened or is not breathing normally, call 911 immediately.
Utah health officials specifically recommend using naloxone when an overdose involving these products is suspected. Naloxone will not harm someone simply because the substance ultimately turns out not to be an opioid.
Poison Control can also be reached nationally at 1-800-222-1222.
What If You Have Become Dependent on Cat’s Claw-Branded Tablets?
If you are using one of these products regularly and experience withdrawal when you stop, do not assume the symptoms are coming from ordinary cat’s claw.
Tell the medical provider exactly what you have been taking.
If possible, save the packaging or take clear photos showing:
- Brand name
- Ingredient panel
- Lot number
- QR codes
- Manufacturer or distributor
- Product strength
- Purchase location
With emerging products, those details may help clinicians understand what type of substance exposure is possible.
It is also important to be honest about the effects.
If something sold as cat’s claw feels similar to 7-OH, prevents opioid withdrawal, produces opioid-like sedation, or requires progressively larger amounts to achieve the same effect, those details are clinically relevant.
Trying to manage dependence by moving back and forth between unknown “legal alternatives,” concentrated 7-OH, kratom, or illicit opioids can make the situation more dangerous.
Treatment for 7-OH and Other Opioid-Active Emerging Substances
An unfamiliar product name does not require an entirely unfamiliar approach to addiction treatment.
If the substance is producing opioid dependence, treatment can focus on the clinical problem occurring in the person rather than waiting for every chemical in the product to be identified.
That may begin with medical assessment and stabilization.
Brooks Healing Center provides medical detox for individuals who need structured support during withdrawal. Clinicians can evaluate recent substance use, withdrawal symptoms, other medications, physical health, mental health, and previous withdrawal history before determining the appropriate level of care.
For some people with opioid use disorder, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) may also be appropriate. Brooks incorporates FDA-approved medications into individualized treatment when clinically indicated, alongside therapy and broader recovery support.
Brooks already treats people struggling with kratom and 7-OH products, in addition to other opioids and substances.
How Brooks Helps
The emergence of products sold as “cat’s claw” shows how quickly the drug market can change.
A substance does not become safe simply because it is sold legally, called a botanical, packaged like a supplement, or placed next to vitamins and energy products.
And treatment should not depend on whether someone knows the exact chemical name printed, or not printed, on a package.
Brooks Healing Center provides individualized addiction treatment at its Normandy, Tennessee campus, including medical detox, residential treatment, Medication-Assisted Treatment, and Partial Hospitalization Program services. Brooks also provides supportive housing and sober living options in Tullahoma for eligible patients as they progress through recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cat’s claw the same thing as 7-OH?
No. Genuine cat’s claw is typically Uncaria tomentosa, an Amazonian vine used as an herbal supplement. 7-hydroxymitragynine is an opioid-active alkaloid associated with kratom.
The current concern is that some products marketed as cat’s claw have contained opioid-active compounds related to 7-OH, despite the botanical branding.
Are companies putting 7-OH in cat’s claw products?
Public-health officials have warned that adulterated cat’s claw products may contain 7-OH or related synthetic compounds. In one confirmed case, Utah testing of Buzzers Cat’s Claw tablets identified MGM-15 and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl rather than ordinary cat’s claw alone.
What is MGM-15?
MGM-15, also known as dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine, is a synthetic 7-OH-related compound with potent opioid activity. The DEA temporarily placed MGM-15 in Schedule I beginning August 26, 2026.
What is mitragynine pseudoindoxyl?
Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, or MGPI, is another potent opioid-active compound chemically related to kratom alkaloids. It was also temporarily placed into Schedule I by the DEA in August 2026.
Are cat’s claw tablets being sold in Tennessee?
Yes. A Warren County prevention coalition documented Buzzers and KLAZ products labeled “Cat’s Claw Extract” in McMinnville-area stores during August 2026. The coalition emphasized that Tennessee products had not yet been laboratory tested, so their ingredients cannot automatically be assumed based on products tested elsewhere.
Can these products cause opioid withdrawal?
Products containing 7-OH, MGM-15, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, or similar opioid-active compounds may create dependence and withdrawal. Federal officials have specifically raised concerns about dependence associated with these substances.
Does naloxone work on these products?
Because the identified substances act on opioid receptors, poison-control officials recommend administering naloxone when overdose from these products is suspected. Call 911 immediately if someone cannot be awakened or is not breathing normally.
Sources
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. (2026, July 30). Illegal kratom product sold in Utah County linked to death in Utah. https://ag.utah.gov/news/illegal-kratom-product-sold-in-utah-county-linked-to-death-in-utah/
Utah Poison Control Center. (2026, July 22). Adulterated Cat’s Claw and Kava products may cause opioid overdose. University of Utah Health. https://poisoncontrol.utah.edu/news/2026/07/adulterated-cats-claw-and-kava-products-may-cause-opioid-overdose
U.S. Department of Justice. (2026, August 25). Justice Department announces emergency scheduling of three potent opioid compounds. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-emergency-scheduling-three-potent-opioid-compounds
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026, July 13). Hiding in plain sight: 7-OH products. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/hiding-plain-sight-7-oh-products
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025, July 29). Products containing 7-OH can cause serious harm. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/products-containing-7-oh-can-cause-serious-harm
Warren County Prevention and Intervention Coalition. (2026, August 18). Kratom is off the shelves in Tennessee. What replaced it should concern all of us. https://warrenprevention.org/2026/08/18/kratom-ban-tennessee-cats-claw-warren-county/
Tennessee General Assembly. (2026). HB 1649/SB 1656: Matthew Davenport’s Law. https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Indexes/BillsBySubject?PrimarySubject=1027&ga=114
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2024, November). Cat’s claw. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cats-claw
