Predicting drug–drug interactions between ayahuasca alkaloids and SSRIs using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling
Gabriella de Souza Gomes Ribeiro, Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara Paranhos, Fabiane Dörr, Mauricio Yonamine, Bianca Villanova, Lorena Terene Lopes Guerra, Adrieli Oliveira Raminelli, José Augusto Silva Reis, Caio César De Paula, Anna Beatriz Vicentini Zacharias, Jaime Eduardo Cecilio Hallak, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Frederico Severino Martins, Tânia Marcourakis
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences February 18, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2026.1768402 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or mechanistic framework Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Null |
| Topics | Ayahuasca Serotonin |
| Keywords | Paroxetine Pharmacology Fluoxetine Pharmacokinetics Antidepressant Sertraline Fluvoxamine Pharmacodynamics Drug interaction Serotonin reuptake inhibitor Moclobemide Dosing Harmine Monoamine oxidase inhibitor Venlafaxine Monoamine oxidase a |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | The analysis suggests a clinically relevant interaction between ayahuasca and SSRIs, as modest increases in DMT exposure may intensify serotonergic effects in individuals receiving antidepressant therapy. |
Abstract
The findings suggest a clinically relevant interaction between ayahuasca and SSRIs, as even modest increases in DMT exposure may intensify serotonergic effects in individuals receiving antidepressant therapy. This study provides a mechanistic and quantitative framework for assessing interaction risks between ayahuasca alkaloids and SSRIs, supporting clinical decision-making and harm-reduction strategies in contexts where controlled drug-drug interaction studies are not feasible.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The globalization of ayahuasca: Harm reduction or benefit maximization? | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ayahuasca Shamanism in the Amazon and Beyond | 2014 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Antipodes of the Mind: Charting the Phenomenology of the Ayahuasca Experience | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ayahuasca healing beyond the Amazon: the globalization of a traditional indigenous entheogenic practice | 2008 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca: Subjective and Cardiovascular Effects, Monoamine Metabolite Excretion, and Pharmacokinetics Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics June 18, 2003
- Ayahuasca: Psychological and Physiologic Effects, Pharmacology and Potential Uses in Addiction and Mental Illness Current Neuropharmacology March 2, 2018
- Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience:N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) ACS Chemical Neuroscience July 23, 2018
- Pharmacokinetics of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in Humans. European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics May 1, 2023
- Validation of an analytical method for the determination of the main ayahuasca active compounds and application to real ayahuasca samples from Brazil Journal of Chromatography B June 8, 2019
and 4 more in the library