Kratom Lawsuit Overview

Kratom lawsuits seek financial compensation for individuals who developed serious injuries after using kratom products sold as powders, capsules, gummies, concentrated liquid shots and other formulations.

Kratom comes from Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia. Traditional use generally involved chewing the leaves or brewing them into tea, but the products now sold throughout the United States may contain concentrated extracts or substantially elevated levels of psychoactive alkaloids.

Recent lawsuits allege manufacturers took advantage of kratom’s reputation as a natural botanical substance while selling increasingly potent products capable of producing opioid-like effects, addiction and severe withdrawal.

Some of the newest claims focus specifically on products containing concentrated or artificially derived 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, which lawsuits allege are substantially different from traditional kratom leaf products.

Who Qualifies for a Kratom Lawsuit?

Kratom lawsuits are being reviewed for individuals who regularly used kratom or 7-OH products and subsequently developed any of the following injuries.

• Severe kratom addiction
• Physical dependence
• Withdrawal requiring medical treatment
• Cardiac injuries
• Cardiac arrest
• Hospitalization
• Kratom poisoning
• Organ damage or other serious complications
• Wrongful death

To determine whether you or a loved one may qualify for a kratom lawsuit, submit information for a free case evaluation. An attorney can review your case, help identify the product involved, and explain your legal rights.

All kratom lawsuits are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs, and no legal fees unless compensation is recovered.

2026 Kratom Lawsuit Updates

• August 13, 2026 Update: The FDA reports that the DEA has begun the temporary scheduling process for concentrated 7-OH and three synthetic kratom-related compounds. The agencies said the action is aimed at high-potency 7-OH products that may present an imminent public health hazard, not traditional kratom leaf containing only trace amounts of the compound.
• March 26, 2026 Update: A new CDC analysis of kratom poison center reports found exposures increased approximately 1,200% between 2015 and 2025, rising from 258 to 3,434 annual reports. Researchers specifically pointed to the shift toward high-potency alkaloid extracts as a growing safety concern.
• September 23, 2025 Update: A series of 7-OH kratom lawsuits were moving forward in federal courts, alleging manufacturers sold highly concentrated or artificially derived products under the kratom name without adequately warning about addiction, dependence and severe withdrawal.
• July 29, 2025 Update: The FDA formally recommended federal scheduling restrictions for certain concentrated 7-OH products, describing 7-OH as a potent opioid with significant abuse potential. Regulators stressed that the action targeted concentrated 7-OH products, not natural kratom leaf.
• July 15, 2025 Update: The FDA issued warning letters to seven companies selling concentrated 7-OH products, including tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots sold online and through smoke shops and gas stations. The agency said 7-OH is not a lawful dietary supplement ingredient and warned that these concentrated products may be dangerous.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom is an herbal substance derived from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia that has traditionally been chewed or brewed into tea for its stimulant and pain-relieving effects.

Use began growing in the United States during the opioid pandemic in the late 90’s and early 2000s, particularly among individuals seeking relief from chronic pain or an alternative to prescription opioids. By the 2010s, kratom products were widely sold online, in smoke shops, convenience stores and gas stations.

Kratom contains psychoactive compounds that affect the brain by interacting with opioid receptors, particularly mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH. Those effects help explain why some consumers use kratom for pain relief, relaxation, increased energy or to manage opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Because kratom can produce some opioid-like effects without requiring a prescription, it has also been used by individuals attempting to reduce or stop their use of prescription painkillers, heroin or other opioids.

The concern raised in recent lawsuits is that many products sold today are far more concentrated than traditional kratom leaves or tea. Extracts, liquid shots and 7-OH products can expose users to substantially higher levels of active compounds, increasing the potential for tolerance, physical dependence, severe withdrawal and other serious health problems.

Why Do People Use Kratom?

Kratom is not FDA-approved to treat any medical condition, but consumers commonly use it for:

• Chronic pain
• Anxiety or depression
• Increased energy or focus
• Relaxation
• Reducing opioid use
• Managing opioid cravings or withdrawal

One survey of nearly 3,000 kratom users found that about 48% primarily used it for pain, while others reported using it for mental health symptoms, energy or reducing opioid use.

How Is Kratom Used?

The earliest U.S. kratom market primarily involved dried leaves, crushed leaf material and powders. While those products are still available, manufacturers have developed increasingly concentrated and convenient formulations sold in:

• Loose powder
• Capsules
• Tablets
• Gummies
• Teas and beverages
• Concentrated extracts
• Liquid kratom shots
• Vape products
• 7-OH tablets
• 7-OH gummies
• 7-OH drink mixes and shots

Kratom Addiction and Dependence

Addiction and physical dependence are central injuries alleged in many kratom lawsuits. Consumers may initially begin taking kratom occasionally for pain, anxiety, energy or opioid withdrawal, but repeated use may cause them to take the product more frequently.

Lawsuits allege some users develop tolerance, meaning increasingly large or frequent doses are required to obtain the same effect. Eventually, individuals may continue taking kratom not simply for its original intended purpose, but to avoid the symptoms that begin when they stop.

Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms

Once physical dependence develops, abruptly stopping kratom may result in withdrawal, which can cause symptoms including:

• Severe cravings
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Restlessness
• Restless legs
• Muscle and body aches
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Lack of energy

The severity and duration of kratom withdrawal may depend on the formulation, amount used, frequency of use and length of time the individual regularly consumed the product.

Kratom Side Effects & Injuries

Federal health officials and medical researchers have documented serious adverse outcomes following kratom exposure, including:

• Severe addiction
• Physical dependence
• Withdrawal
• Rapid heart rate
• Cardiac injuries
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Cardiac arrest
• Seizures
• Liver toxicity
• Loss of consciousness
• Kratom poisoning
• Respiratory problems
• Multi-organ complications
• Hospitalization
• Death

Kratom Cardiac Injuries

Cardiac problems have emerged as an allegation in recent kratom litigation.

In August 2026, a Nevada man filed a Nova Kratom lawsuit alleging that prolonged use caused severe addiction, withdrawal symptoms and cardiac injuries.

Medical researchers have also documented serious cardiovascular events following kratom use. A 2026 case report published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine described a healthy 35-year-old man with no prior medical history who suffered cardiac arrest after recent kratom use.

He developed severe metabolic abnormalities, kidney and liver injuries and multi-system organ failure before dying. Researchers indicated the cardiac arrest and resulting complications were presumed to be associated with kratom use.

Kratom Poisoning

Kratom poisoning may result in symptoms severe enough to require emergency treatment, hospitalization or intensive care.

A 2026 CDC analysis found 14,449 kratom exposures were reported to U.S. poison centers between 2015 and 2025, with annual reports increasing approximately 1,200%, from 258 cases in 2015 to 3,434 in 2025. Hospitalizations involving kratom also increased sharply during that period.

Separate research reported in JAMA found that poison center reports involving kratom increased from 19 cases in 2010 to 1,242 in 2023. Reports involving life-threatening effects, significant disability or death increased from zero to 158, and 13% of all reported kratom exposures resulted in severe medical outcomes.

FDA Warnings Over Kratom

The FDA has repeatedly warned that kratom and concentrated 7-OH products may cause serious health problems, including addiction, withdrawal, seizures, liver and cardiovascular toxicity, respiratory depression and death. Federal regulators have become particularly concerned about newer products containing enhanced levels of 7-OH, which can produce stronger opioid-like effects than traditional kratom leaf products.

• July 2025: FDA Seeks Restrictions on Concentrated 7-OH Products: The FDA recommended federal scheduling controls for certain concentrated 7-OH products, warning that they are potent opioids with substantial abuse potential. The agency emphasized that its action targeted concentrated 7-OH products, not traditional kratom leaves.

• July 2025: FDA Warns Companies Selling 7-OH Products: The FDA issued warning letters to companies selling 7-OH tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots, describing the products as novel potent opioids that may be dangerous. Regulators said concentrated 7-OH cannot lawfully be sold as a dietary supplement or added to conventional foods.

• July 2024: FDA Warns Against OPMS Black Liquid Kratom: The FDA told consumers not to use OPMS Black Liquid Kratom after receiving reports involving addiction, withdrawal and other serious health problems, including a death. The agency warned that consumers may mistakenly assume kratom products are safe because they are plant-based and widely sold in ordinary retail stores.

• 2018: FDA Targets Kratom Products Marketed for Opioid Addiction: The FDA warned companies against marketing kratom as a treatment for opioid addiction or withdrawal, stressing that the products had never been established as safe or effective for those uses. Regulators also warned that these claims could cause consumers to delay proven treatments for opioid addiction.

Why Are Kratom Lawsuits Being Filed?

Kratom lawsuits allege manufacturers and sellers failed to adequately warn consumers that repeated use of their products could result in physical dependence, addiction, withdrawal and other serious health problems.

Plaintiffs maintain that the products were often promoted under the broader reputation of kratom as a natural botanical supplement, even as manufacturers developed increasingly concentrated formulations with stronger opioid-like effects.

Some individuals say they initially began using kratom because they were attempting to avoid prescription opioids or believed it represented a safer option for managing chronic pain.

However, lawsuits allege consumers may instead become dependent on kratom itself, requiring increasingly frequent use to avoid withdrawal.

Kratom Lawsuit Allegations

Complaints filed against kratom manufacturers and sellers allege they:

• Failed to adequately warn about addiction and physical dependence
• Failed to warn about severe kratom withdrawal
• Marketed products as natural or relatively safe
• Promoted kratom for pain relief or opioid withdrawal
• Failed to adequately disclose its opioid-like effects
• Sold increasingly concentrated kratom products
• Failed to disclose the potency of certain formulations
• Failed to distinguish concentrated 7-OH products from traditional kratom
• Failed to adequately warn about cardiovascular injuries
• Failed to warn about poisoning and death
• Failed to conduct adequate safety testing
• Used misleading labeling or marketing
• Failed to provide adequate dosage information

The specific causes of action vary from case to case and may include product liability, negligence, failure to warn, breach of warranty, consumer protection and wrongful death claims.

Kratom Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Families have also filed wrongful death lawsuits alleging kratom manufacturers and distributors failed to warn that their products could cause fatal poisoning, cardiovascular complications or other serious medical events.

In January 2024, the family of a Washington man filed a kratom wrongful death lawsuit alleging kratom poisoning caused his death and that manufacturers and distributors failed to adequately warn consumers about the risks.

Wrongful death claims may seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost financial support, loss of companionship and other damages available under state law.

Kratom Manufacturers & Products Named in Lawsuits

Kratom lawsuits have been filed against a number of manufacturers, distributors and retailers accused of selling traditional kratom, concentrated extracts and high-potency 7-OH products without adequate warnings about addiction, poisoning and other serious risks.

The products named in lawsuits vary substantially, ranging from powders and capsules to liquid shots and concentrated 7-OH tablets. Some of the more prominent manufacturers and brands identified in recent claims include:

• Nova Kratom
• MIB Inc.
• Thang Botanicals
• FTLS Holdings
• CBD American Shaman
• Shaman Botanicals
• Advanced Alkaloids
• Kama Distribution
• Whole Herbs
• Hush
• Hush Worldwide
• Drip Drop Distro
• Bedrock Manufacturing
• Cloud House Vaporz
• The Kratom Distro
• Grow LLC
• Space Dust
• Green Maeng Da
• Green Horned Maeng Da
• Green Riau

Kratom Lawsuit Compensation

There is currently no established average kratom lawsuit settlement amount because the litigation remains in its early stages.

The potential value of an individual claim will likely depend on factors such as:

• Specific kratom product used
• Whether concentrated 7-OH was involved
• Duration and frequency of use
• Severity of addiction or dependence
• Withdrawal treatment
• Hospitalization
• Cardiac or organ injuries
• Permanent medical problems
• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Whether kratom contributed to a death

Claims involving permanent injuries, substantial medical treatment or wrongful death may involve greater damages than cases involving dependence without serious physical injuries.

Kratom Lawsuit Examples

Recent lawsuits illustrate how claims against kratom manufacturers are evolving and the different injuries plaintiffs allege were caused by these products.

Nova Kratom Lawsuit Over Addiction & Cardiac Injuries

Alejandro Mendoza filed a Nova Kratom lawsuit in Nevada state court on July 20, 2026, naming MIB Inc., which does business as Nova Kratom, as the defendant. The case was removed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada on August 6, 2026. Mendoza alleges Nova marketed its kratom products as harmless herbal supplements without adequately warning that they could produce powerful opioid-like effects and dependence.

According to the complaint, Mendoza repeatedly used Nova Kratom products and eventually developed severe kratom addiction, physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms and cardiac injuries. He alleges the company failed to provide adequate warnings that regular use could cause users to become dependent on the products or suffer serious cardiovascular complications.

7-OH Lawsuit Alleges Products Were Up to 10 Times More Potent Than Morphine

Matthew Kernisky filed a 7-OH kratom lawsuit against Kama Distribution LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 19, 2025. The proposed class action alleged Kama sold Pseudoindoxyl and 7-OH tablets without adequately warning that the highly refined compounds could produce far stronger opioid-like effects than traditional kratom. The complaint claimed the substances could be approximately three to five times and up to 10 times more potent than morphine, respectively.

Kernisky alleged these concentrated products could cause addiction, physical dependence and severe opioid-like withdrawal symptoms, while their packaging failed to disclose those dangers. He sought damages under New York consumer protection laws, fraud by omission and unjust enrichment theories.

Kratom Class Action Claims User Was Spending $700 Per Week on 7-OH

A group of consumers filed a kratom class action lawsuit against Thang Botanicals Inc. and FTLS Holdings LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on October 7, 2024. The plaintiffs, identified only by their initials, alleged the companies refined and sold high-potency 7-OH products while failing to warn consumers that the kratom-derived compound could produce opioid-like addiction and withdrawal.

One plaintiff identified as A.S. alleged they first tried 7-OH in June 2024 and recognized within about four weeks that they had become addicted. By August, the complaint says A.S. was spending approximately $700 per week on the products and experienced restlessness, cramps, vomiting, sweating, irritability and loss of appetite when trying to quit. The plaintiff ultimately began taking Suboxone to manage the withdrawal symptoms.

Advanced Alkaloids Lawsuit Alleges Thousands Spent Maintaining 7-OH Dependence

Edward Zachary Korte and Steven Ray filed another proposed 7-OH class action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on September 18, 2025, naming CBD American Shaman LLC, owner Stephen Vincent Sanders II, SVS Enterprises LLC, Shaman Botanicals and others as defendants. The lawsuit alleged the companies marketed Advanced Alkaloids 7-OH tablets as safe, legal and natural while concealing their potential for addiction and painful withdrawal.

Korte alleged he purchased about 20 bottles in four months, spending roughly $2,000, while Ray claimed he began using the products after receiving a free sample from an employee who allegedly reassured him about addiction concerns. Both plaintiffs claimed they developed dependence and painful withdrawal symptoms and ultimately spent thousands of dollars maintaining their use.

Kratom Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After 37-Year-Old Man Dies

Rachel McKibban filed a kratom wrongful death lawsuit in Cowlitz County Superior Court in Washington on November 13, 2023, on behalf of the estate of her brother, Jordan McKibban. The lawsuit names a number of manufacturers, distributors and retailers allegedly involved in selling Whole Herbs capsules, Hush liquid shots and bulk kratom powders that McKibban used for pain management.

On April 5, 2022, family members found the 37-year-old unresponsive on his bathroom floor, and he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy determined that he died from the toxic effects of mitragynine, the principal alkaloid found in kratom. The complaint alleges the companies responsible for making and selling the products failed to adequately warn consumers that kratom could cause fatal poisoning and death.

Speak With a Kratom Lawsuit Lawyer

Lawyers are investigating kratom lawsuits for individuals who developed severe addiction, withdrawal, cardiac injuries, poisoning or other serious medical complications after regularly using kratom or concentrated 7-OH products.

Kratom lawyers handle these claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront attorney fees and attorneys are only paid if compensation is recovered through a settlement or verdict.

A lawyer can review the specific products used, duration of use and resulting medical problems to determine whether a potential product liability claim may be available.