Kratom Seltzer Lawsuit Claims Drinks Cause Withdrawal Symptoms Similar to Opioids

Mitra-9 should have known their kratom seltzer drink was highly addictive, but failed to include any warnings for consumers on the packaging, lawsuit alleges.

A Washington man has filed a class action lawsuit against the makers of Mitra-9 kratom seltzers, indicating that he suffered severe withdrawal symptoms after reducing his use of the products.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Shelah Palmer in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington on July 14, naming Mitra-9 Brands LLC as the sole defendant.

Mitra-9 Brands manufactures a number of different seltzers, shots and powders sold under the Mitra-9 name, some of which contain kratom extract.

Kratom is natural supplement, which is derived from a plant native to Southeast Asia, which has grown in popularity in the United States, for its potential to ease pain, reduce anxiety and boost energy. However, there is now growing evidence that it is highly addictive, raising concerns about its safety and potential health risks.

Despite its use throughout Asia for centuries, many American consumers remain unaware of kratom’s potentially addictive properties. When the supplement is discontinued, some users claim to have experienced kratom withdrawal symptoms similar to opioids, such as restless legs, runny nose, pain, muscle spasms, diarrhea, loss of appetite, chills and intense discomfort.

Some individuals have attempted to manage kratom withdrawal with Suboxone, though it’s not FDA-approved for this purpose. Limited case reports have shown it may help alleviate symptoms on a case-by-case basis. However, Suboxone itself carries risks, particularly its sublingual form, which has been linked to severe dental damage. This has led to numerous Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits alleging that manufacturers failed to adequately warn users of this possibility.

In his lawsuit, Palmer accuses Mitra-9 of falsely marketing its kratom products as harmless wellness drinks, despite knowing they were addictive and could cause severe withdrawal symptoms.

Palmer says he began buying Mitra-9 products in 2019 from gas stations and smoke shops in Washington, unaware of their risks. Packaged with bright colors and marketed with phrases like “natural,” “relax” and “unwind,” the drinks resembled energy beverages and gave no warning about their potential for physical dependence, the lawsuit claims. Palmer alleges the branding was intentionally designed to mask the products’ pharmacological effects.

After several months of daily use, Palmer attempted to cut back and immediately experienced intense withdrawal symptoms, including cold sweats, irritability, insomnia, restlessness and muscle pain. He says the symptoms made it difficult to function at work or complete daily tasks, forcing him to resume use. He also claims he spent hundreds of dollars a month to avoid withdrawal.

The lawsuit alleges that Mitra-9 failed to warn consumers that its products interact with the brain’s opioid receptors and can cause addiction similar to heroin or prescription opioids. It cites studies showing that kratom’s main alkaloids—mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine—bind strongly to mu-opioid receptors. Palmer argues the company’s failure to disclose these risks, despite scientific and industry knowledge, reflects fraudulent concealment and disregard for consumer safety.

“There is no warning to consumers that the Products interact with opioid receptors, nor is there any warning that the Products are highly addictive and should not be taken on a daily basis.”

–Shelah Palmer v. Mitra-9 Brands LLC

The complaint also includes user testimonials describing compulsive use, failed attempts to quit, and financial or emotional harm. It claims Mitra-9 prioritized profits over safety and violated consumer protection laws by withholding critical information about the dangers of kratom.

Palmer raises allegations of Violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act: RCW Chapter 19.86, breach of implied warranty, unjust enrichment and fraud by omission. He is seeking class action certification of his lawsuit, with a subclass for residents of Washington State, as well as actual, compensatory, statutory and punitive damages.

Kratom Health Concerns

The dangers of kratom have been known by the federal government for quite some time. In 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed classifying kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance, grouping it with drugs like heroin due to its potential for abuse. While Congress ultimately rejected the proposal, the DEA has continued to caution against kratom use.

Two years later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public warning stating that kratom is not safe for medicinal use, following reports of 44 deaths associated with kratom consumption.

The following year, the family of a man who died from kratom-related complications filed a wrongful death lawsuit, after an autopsy revealed elevated levels of kratom alkaloids in his system, which were identified as the cause of death.

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