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Ayahuasca Preparations and Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: A Potential Combination for Severe Adverse Interactions

James C. Callaway, Charles S. Grob

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 1, 1998 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.1998.10399712 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Topics Ayahuasca Serotonin
Keywords Hallucinogen Pharmacology Reuptake inhibitor Serotonin syndrome Peganum harmala Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
Citations 134
Key findings Combining ayahuasca with SSRI antidepressants may induce serotonin syndrome with potentially grave outcome.

Abstract

The Amazonian psychoactive plant beverage ayahuasca has attracted increasing interest in recent years. Little attention has been given, however, to potentially dangerous interactions with other drugs. In particular, the interaction between the potent monoamine oxidase-inhibiting harmala alkaloids in ayahuasca and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressants may induce a serotonin syndrome with potentially grave outcome. Caution is advised when combining ayahuasca with certain pharmaceutical drugs.

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