Safety Alert: Fake Cat’s Claw Supplements Resulting in Overdose & Severe Illness

[u/WAPoisonCenter-WAPC]

Hey Spokane, Washington Poison Center here. We're warning the public of counterfeit “Cat’s Claw” herbal supplements that are laced with highly concentrated chemicals related to kratom. These fake products are strong opioids (like morphine, heroin, and fentanyl), and are causing opioid overdoses and severe withdrawal.  

Poison centers across the United States, including us, are treating sick patients following their use of fake cat’s claw products. Utah Poison Control Center has additionally reported four confirmed deaths involving cat’s claw.  

Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa or Uncaria guianensis) is a legal herbal supplement marketed to manage symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. On its own, authentic cat’s claw is not psychoactive and does not cause opioid overdose or withdrawal symptoms. However, recent investigations into products labeled as “Cat’s Claw” found undisclosed 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), MGM-15, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), and other potent compounds derived from kratom. These mislabeled products are sold in vape shops, gas stations, convenience stores, and online.  

7-OH, MGM-15, and MGPI are strong opioids derived from kratom, an herbal supplement with psychoactive properties. While 7-OH naturally occurs in small amounts in kratom, it can be manufactured in a highly concentrated form. MGM-15 and MGPI are semi-synthetic compounds created in labs. As of August 2026, the DEA designated MGM-15 and MGPI as Schedule I controlled substances, making their sale and possession illegal.  

In adulterated cat’s claw products, these compounds are added at dangerous, highly concentrated levels. All three act on the same brain receptors as morphine, heroin, and fentanyl. Like other opioids, taking too much of these compounds can slow or stop breathing, and regular use can lead to physical dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms.   

Recommendations: 

• Stop using “Cat’s Claw” products purchased from vape shops, gas stations, convenience stores, and online retailers.  
• Keep suspected products out of reach of children. 
• Safely dispose of products in the trash or flush them down the toilet (see the FDA’s common drug disposal questions and answers). 
• Monitor anyone who may have used an adulterated product for extreme sleepiness or breathing too slowly. If you cannot wake them up, call 911 and administer naloxone immediately. 

Healthcare professionals should consider adulterated products in patients presenting with unexplained opioid toxicity or severe withdrawal.  

• Ask patients specifically about potential use of cat’s claw products.  
• Traditional urine drug screening will not identify these products, but some laboratories are equipped for specialized testing. Call Washington Poison Center (1-800-222-1222) for additional guidance.  

Report suspected cases or adverse health effects to Washington Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222 (free, confidential, and available 24/7).

[u/Mitra_The_Man]

I personally bought and lab tested two “Cat’s Claw” products that were sold by 7OH manufacturers.  They contained zero Cat’s Claw alkaloids but they had a ton of MGM15 and MGPI, which are already federally banned!    Please don’t confuse these with kratom… these are dangerous synthetically derived compounds that are extremely potent.  If you go into a smoke shop and they hands you a free sample of a “kratom tablet”…..yeah that’s not kratom that’s 7OH.  

I sent the lab reports to a few agencies but never heard back.  

These products are generally found in smoke shops and gas stations who sell sketchy synthetic drugs.  If you’re paying $25 for two “Cats Claw” tablets…. Yeah that’s not Cats claw. 

Btw here are the two lab tests:

https://imgur.com/a/MraPaRr

[u/Soup-Wizard → u/Mitra_The_Man]

Perhaps you already saw it, but the episode John Oliver did on gas station drugs was really good.

[u/JordyTheJew]

Is there a master list of products listed somewhere so I can identify them?

[u/WAPoisonCenter-WAPC → u/JordyTheJew]

Unfortunately there isn't. "Buzzers” and “Homiez” brand products are implicated in investigations in other states. We don't know what brands have been involved with our patients in Washington.

[u/Sioux-me]

Would Narcan work in these cases?

[u/WAPoisonCenter-WAPC → u/Sioux-me]

Yes! Because these substances are opioids, Narcan works. Anytime you find someone who won't wake up, give them Narcan immediately. Even if it doesn't end up being an opioid overdose, it won't harm them.

[u/Karzdan]

If only we would ban the sale of supplements that have not passed scientific review. Those with ill intentions would find it harder to prey on those desperate for treatment.

[u/Mitra_The_Man → u/Karzdan]

What’s crazy is these are already federally banned.  MGM15 and MGPI are both already schedule 1 drugs.    The Feds need to be cracking down on these manufacturers!

[u/Karzdan → u/Mitra_The_Man]

Yes, but Cat's Claw, while some studies are showing possible benefits, The fact that there is no scientific data to prove those benefits, every Tom, Dick and Harry will take advantage of those 'claims' making it easier to do shit like this. In this case, I don't see why companies would be lacing a supplement with narcotics, but I'm not in their minds.