Blue Ridge Poison Center and Virginia's health department warn that "cat's claw" products contain unlabeled kratom alkaloids, 7-OH and MGM-15

The Blue Ridge Poison Center at UVA Health, in a ToxTalks bulletin for healthcare professionals dated September 15, 2026, and the Virginia Department of Health, in a Tox Hot Topics post dated September 17, 2026, warned that products sold as "cat's claw" contain unlabeled kratom alkaloids and synthetic kratom derivatives.

U.S. poison centers have reported an increased number of calls about exposures to these products [1]. They're sold in vape shops, convenience stores, gas stations, and online [1], under names including "Buzzers" and "Buzzin with the homiez" [1]. The poison center says an investigation by multiple poison centers found they contain unlabeled kratom alkaloids and synthetic kratom derivatives, including mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP), and MGM-15 [1].

Reported clinical effects include central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, and rhabdomyolysis [1]. The poison center says standard naloxone doses used for opioid toxicity should be given if someone shows respiratory depression [1]. People who take these products repeatedly may become dependent and go into withdrawal when they stop [1]; the Virginia Department of Health describes this withdrawal as opioid-like [2]. The Blue Ridge Poison Center can be reached at 1-800-222-1222 [1].

The Blue Ridge Poison Center's bulletin tells clinicians to stay alert to mislabeled or adulterated cat's claw [1]. The Virginia Department of Health's post extends that advice to the public: consumers should be vigilant about mislabeled cat's claw to avoid misuse, dependence, and withdrawal [2], and should tell their doctor what supplements they're taking [2]. The department also notes that herbal supplements in general aren't inspected or approved by the FDA, so there's no guarantee a supplement is safe or that it contains what the label says [2].

Also reported: 29News (WVIR), Unlabeled kratom found in cat's claw products across Virginia.

References

1. ToxTalks, September 15, 2026: Cat's Claw (bulletin for healthcare professionals) — Blue Ridge Poison Center at UVA Health
2. "Cat's Claw" Products Containing Unlabeled Kratom Alkaloids (Tox Hot Topics) — Virginia Department of Health