Subjective effects and tolerability of the South American psychoactive beverage Ayahuasca in healthy volunteers
Jordi Riba, Antoni Rodrı́guez-fornells, Gloria Urbano, Adelaida Morte, Rosa María Antonijoan, María Jesús Miranda Montero, James C. Callaway, Manel J. Barbanoj
Psychopharmacology February 22, 2001 DOI: 10.1007/s002130000606 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-blind crossover placebo-controlled clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Healthy male volunteers with prior experience using ayahuasca |
| Intervention | encapsulated freeze-dried ayahuasca |
| Dose | 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg DMT/kg body weight |
| Topics | Anxiety Ayahuasca LSD Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Tolerability Hallucinogen Placebo Crossover study Nausea Adverse effect |
| Citations | 302 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca produced significant dose-dependent psychological effects, was generally well tolerated, and induced changes of longer duration and milder intensity than intravenous DMT. |
Abstract
RationaleAyahuasca is a South American psychoactive beverage that contains the naturally occurring psychedelic agent N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). This "tea" has been used for centuries in religious and medicinal contexts in the rain forest areas of South America and is presently gaining the attention of psychedelic users in North America and Europe.ObjectivesIn the present study, the psychological effects and tolerability of ayvahuasca were assessed.MethodsThree increasing doses of encapsulated freeze-dried ayahuasca (0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg DMT/kg body weight) were administered to six healthy male volunteers with prior experience in the use of this tea, in a single-blind crossover placebo-controlled clinical trial.ResultsAyahuasca produced significant dose-dependent increases in five of the six subscales of the Hallucinogen Rating Scale, in the LSD, MBG, and A scales of the Addiction Research Center Inventory, and in the "liking", "good effects" and "high" visual analogue scales. Psychological effects were first noted after 30-60 min, peaked between 60-120 min, and were resolved by 240 min. The tea was well tolerated from a cardiovascular point of view, with a trend toward increase for systolic blood pressure. Modified physical sensations and nausea were the most frequently reported somatic-dysphoric effects. The overall experience was regarded as pleasant and satisfactory by five of the six volunteers, while one volunteer experienced an intensely dysphoric reaction with transient disorientation and anxiety at the medium dose and voluntarily withdrew from the study.ConclusionsAyahuasca can be described as inducing changes in the perceptual, affective, cognitive, and somatic spheres, with a combination of stimulatory and visual psychoactive effects of longer duration and milder intensity than those previously reported for intravenously administered DMT.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Ayahuasca produced significant dose-dependent psychological effects, was generally well tolerated, and induced changes of longer duration and milder intensity than intravenous DMT.
Synthesized
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State of the evidence: Ayahuasca Supports
Ayahuasca produced significant dose-dependent psychological effects, was generally well tolerated, and induced changes of longer duration and milder intensity than intravenous DMT.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on ayahuasca for anxiety, most cited first.