What Is “Pseudo”?

The Dangerous New Chapter in the Kratom Story

For the past year, we have been bringing you news about kratom extracts, derivatives, and analogs like 7-OH, MGM-15, and MGM-16. We’ve seen this story develop from a problem on the horizon to something sold in convenience stores all over the United States. We let you know recently that the federal government has taken steps to clamp down on these highly addictive drugs. Unfortunately, as of this writing, the most popular, 7-OH, is still being commonly sold, and we are still seeing people arrive at treatment addicted to it.

Pseudo in the News: Deaths in Mississippi and Utah

Now, there is a troubling new development as another kratom-related product has been in the news. It is mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, often called “pseudo,” “MP,” or “MGPI.” This substance has been connected to several deaths already. It made the national headlines due to two student deaths at University of Mississippi.¹ When these deaths were investigated, both had packages of a drug marketed as “SMAX Pseudo DHM.”

The drugs had been bought from a local store, where, according to news reports, the staff knew that the substances were potentially deadly. Now, two staff members from the store have been arrested. Authorities in this case have not said for certain what role the drug played, saying their investigation is ongoing.

Just a few days later, four fatalities happened in Utah.² Unlike the University of Mississippi deaths, Utah officials explicitly linked the latest deaths to products called “cat’s claw” containing a blend of 7-OH, pseudo, and MGM-15.

In both Mississippi and Utah, pseudo was a major ingredient. This is especially important, because pseudo and MGM-15 have recently been federally banned as temporary Schedule I substances, and 7-OH is under review to be placed under similar status. Nonetheless, this has not stopped people from being able to buy it.

What Is Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl?

Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (“pseudo”) is a synthetic substance based on mitragynine, which naturally occurs in the kratom plant.³ It’s important to say “based on,” because unlike 7-OH or MGM-15, which amplify or modify molecules from kratom leaf, pseudo does not naturally occur in kratom at all. It is “inspired” by mitragynine, which is the main ingredient that kratom users want, because of mitragynine’s stimulant effect at low doses and opioid effect at higher doses.

7-OH takes a version of mitragynine that is available in only trace amounts in natural kratom and dramatically amplifies it into something that can be up to 17 times more powerful than morphine.⁴ Pseudo takes things even further, as it is a synthetic compound that binds several times more easily to the mu opioid receptors in the brain.⁵

This puts users in line for horrible withdrawals and possible overdose toxicity. Pseudo is stronger than 7-OH, and several of our clients have told us that withdrawal from 7-OH has been worse than anything they’ve ever experienced. They describe being sick in their car while driving to get more and then trying to swallow the next dose despite their digestive system actively rejecting it.

It’s notable that researchers have been aware of mitragynine pseudoindoxyl for some time. What is causing concern now is that for most of that time, it wasn’t showing up in the drug supply. Today, that has all changed.

Why Marketing Pseudo as Kratom Makes it Even More Dangerous 

Despite being more inspired than derived from kratom, pseudo is typically advertised as being a kratom product. This gives users a false impression of safety, as though they are taking an all-natural product. As we have written in the past, saying something is “all natural” is no guarantee of safety, but it’s even worse when the product the consumer gets is completely synthetic. The American Kratom Association has complained about this and points out that pseudo is falsely advertised when it is branded as a kratom product.

Even websites that sell pseudo warn that it is too powerful for the average user. In thinly veiled language, and sometimes explicitly, they advertise it as being for people who have built a tolerance and need something stronger to keep getting the opioid effects they seek.⁵ In other words, users are encouraged to use kratom until their tolerance is too high, then switch to 7-OH, MGM-15 and MGM-16, and then to pseudo.

If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because this is similar to how users of more “traditional” opiates have made the progression from one opiate to the next, until they are on the most powerful drugs available and at high risk for deadly overdose, legal consequences, and everything else that comes with addiction.

You might ask how people are still able to buy pseudo if it has been banned as a Schedule I drug. Kratom websites, who may be selling from locations outside the U.S., say it’s up to the user to determine if pseudo is legal in their jurisdiction. Unfortunately, a core part of the market for these products is addicted well past the point of sitting down to research the legality of these products. In addition, many convenience store and smoke shop employees may barely understand what they are selling with the rapidly shifting supply and legal status of these drugs.

Additional Risks of Pseudo: Overdose, Addiction, and Unknown Drug Combinations

Because pseudo hasn’t been showing up in drug users at this level before, there is nowhere near enough research on dosing limits and overdose treatment. This alone makes it highly dangerous, because it means a substance that powerfully hits opioid receptors is being sold to an unsuspecting public. This is happening despite the history of how previous such drugs have impacted human life and wellbeing.

We know that because it is extremely reactive with the mu opioid receptors in users’ brains, it is highly likely to be very addictive. We also know that overdose deaths have been associated with pseudo, and authorities are growing more confident in blaming the drug.

We know that manufacturers don’t accurately or consistently let users know how much pseudo is in their products and are starting to blend different kratom-related substances with no real basis to establish safety. This means that consumers have no idea of what they are getting when they take these drugs.

What we don’t know for certain is what happens when pseudo is combined with other kratom derivatives, such as happened with the recent deaths. We also don’t have enough research on how pseudo reacts with other drugs, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other opioids like fentanyl. Given what we have seen so far and what has happened with other drug mixtures, the answer is likely nothing good.

How We Treat Addiction to Pseudo, 7-OH, and Other Kratom Products at Windmill

At Windmill Wellness Ranch, we have been helping people face kratom and its addictive variations since it first started to show up in our clients. That’s why this is more than a headline in the news to us. This is a real problem facing the real people who come to us for help.

At Windmill, we are on the cutting edge of treatment for kratom, 7-OH, and variations like pseudo, helping to create a safe way to help people detox. We continue to work with Johns Hopkins University to advance research in the field.

We don’t just help people understand and address drug use; we also help them navigate underlying mental health concerns, along with teaching practical techniques to stay sober and live a great life.

We also include families in our treatment, because the more support someone has, the better their chances of recovery.

Every day, we see that when people believe they can recover and feel good about themselves, they are much more likely to find hope and healing. We specialize in compassionate, evidence-based treatment for both addiction and trauma, helping individuals and families rebuild stability and hope. If you or someone you love needs support, we are here. Call 830-935-2800 or contact us online to take the first step toward healing.

References

1. Gallant, J. (2026). Raided Oxford store was where Ole Miss student purchased kratom before death, records show. Retrieved from: https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/09/28/raided-oxford-store-was-where-ole-miss-student-purchased-kratom-before-death-records-show/
2. Downing, J. (2026). Kratom products linked to 4 deaths in Utah as officials warn of potentially deadly mislabeled products. Retrieved from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/kratom-products-linked-to-4-deaths-in-utah-as-officials-warn-of-potentially-deadly-mislabeled-products/ar-AA2dVxJE
3. Yamamoto, L. T., Horie, S., Takayama, H., Aimi, N., Sakai, S. I., Yano, S., … & Watanabe, K. (1999). Opioid receptor agonistic characteristics of mitragynine pseudoindoxyl in comparison with mitragynine derived from Thai medicinal plant Mitragyna speciosa. General Pharmacology: The Vascular System, 33(1), 73-81.
4. Lydecker, A. G., Sharma, A., McCurdy, C. R., Avery, B. A., Babu, K. M., & Boyer, E. W. (2016). Suspected adulteration of commercial kratom products with 7-hydroxymitragynine. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 12(4), 341-349.
5. Kamble, S. H., León, F., King, T. I., Berthold, E. C., Lopera-Londoño, C., Siva Rama Raju, K., … & McCurdy, C. R. (2020). Metabolism of a kratom alkaloid metabolite in human plasma increases its opioid potency and efficacy. ACS pharmacology & translational science, 3(6), 1063-1068.
6. Kratom Bazaar. (2026). What is pseudo kratom: Effects & 7-oh comparison guide. Retrieved from: https://kratombazaar.com/blogs/news/what-is-pseudo-kratom-pseudoindoxyl-explained

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is mitragynine pseudoindoxyl the same as kratom? It is not. Just as fentanyl is a compound “inspired” by opiates but does not come from the opium poppy, pseudoindoxyl is “inspired” by kratom but does not come from the kratom plant.
2. Is pseudoindoxyl stronger than 7-OH or morphine? Yes. It shows up as being 2-3x stronger than 7-OH, which is already stronger than morphine.⁴
3. Is pseudoindoxyl the same substance as MGM-15? MGM-15 is a semi-synthetic compound derived from the kratom plant, whereas pseudoindoxyl is not found in kratom.
4. Is mitragynine pseudoindoxyl legal in the United States? It is temporarily banned by the federal government (Schedule I) while it is being studied. This only happened a few weeks ago, as of this writing, so it is still being sold by some retailers and websites who either haven’t figured out they are carrying something illegal or don’t care.
5. Can naloxone reverse a pseudoindoxyl overdose? It should, but there isn’t enough research to know for sure. If you think someone is overdosing, administer naloxone (Narcan) immediately and call 911. Be ready to give more than one dose, because no one knows for sure how much it may take and how people will react. Most of what we know currently is based on research on rats.