Important information about contraindications before embarking on the medicine journey

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Contraindications

Please read through these carefully before embarking on any journey with the plants spirits. I will post about the preparation and diet in future blogs.

From an Amazonian plant healer’s perspective, when working with a powerful medicinal plant like ayahuasca, it is strongly preferable to avoid taking any other substances or medicines. This is because other drugs can interfere with the plant’s energetic work and potentially provoke unwanted or harmful reactions within your body and spirit.

Certain drugs and medications have been identified as incompatible with ayahuasca. For your safety, it is essential to stop taking any such substances well in advance of your ceremony and allow your system sufficient time to clear these compounds from your body before beginning any ceremony.

they will provide clear, individualized advice on how to proceed with suspending medications during your booking process, ensuring you have the support and knowledge you need for a safe journey.

It is very important to emphasize that you should never stop taking prescribed medications without first consulting your doctor. Your health and safety come first, and professional medical guidance is essential if you are making any changes to your prescribed treatments. If you are in any doubt or have questions about medications or contraindications, please do not hesitate to consult your doctor. On how to come off of them or the safest way for you to stop them, even temporarily.

Contraindications: Herbal Medicine and Supplements

You must notify them of any herbal or natural medicines you are currently taking, as well as any dietary or health supplements. This information is vital for your safety, as certain herbs and supplements can interact negatively with ayahuasca and affect the safety and quality of your experience.

The following herbal medicines are known to have potentially harmful interactions with ayahuasca and must be discontinued at least two weeks prior to working with the medicine:

·         St. John’s Wort

·         Kava

·         Kratom

·         Ephedra

·         Ginseng

·         Yohimbe

·         Sinicuichi

·         Rhodiola Rosea

·         Kanna

·         Boswellia

·         Nutmeg

·         Scotch Broom

·         Liquorice Root

·         Cannabis

Note about interaction with cannabis:

Smoking marijuana before an ayahuasca ceremony may stupefy or cloud the overall experience. It can act as a blockage, preventing the visionary qualities of the plant medicine from fully manifesting in your consciousness. Because ayahuasca heightens sensitivity in all participants, cannabis use can negatively impact not only the individual who consumed it but also the experience and energy of the entire medicine circle.

For this reason, it is important that cannabis is fully cleared from your system before attending ceremony. This ensures that the medicine can work in its fullest and most beneficial way—for you and for everyone present.

Contraindications: Drugs and Medications

Any medication that contains MAO inhibitors (MAO-Is) is known to cause dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects when taken in conjunction with ayahuasca. For this reason, such medications must be suspended well in advance before participating in any ceremony.

Similarly, any medication that affects the serotonin system, including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), can induce a condition called serotonin syndrome, which can be potentially fatal when combined with ayahuasca. Because of the serious risks involved, we strongly advise that SSRI medications be suspended at least six weeks prior to the workshop to allow sufficient time for the medication to clear your system safely.

It is important to recognize that some of these medications may cause withdrawal side effects or other physical symptoms when you stop taking them. Therefore, you should allow ample time for these effects to subside before the ceremony. Additionally, you must always consult your physician or medical practitioner before altering or suspending any medication schedule to ensure your safety and wellbeing.

Contraindicated Drugs (3, 5):

• Other MAO inhibitors (MAO-Is) beyond those already mentioned.

• SSRIs (any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

• Asthma inhalers

• Antihypertensives (medications for high blood pressure)

• Appetite suppressants (diet pills)

• Medications for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems

• Antihistamines, including medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies (this includes any cold, cough, or flu preparations, and specifically any drug with “DM,” “DX,” or “-tuss” in its name)

• CNS (central nervous system) depressants

• Antipsychotics

• Barbiturates (also listed again here for emphasis)

• Tranquilizers

• Sympathomimetic amines, including pseudoephedrine and ephedrine.

• Alcohol

• Amphetamines

• Opiates

Contraindicated Drugs (3, 5):

·         Actifed

·         Adderall

·         Alaproclate

·         Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)

·         Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)

·         Amineptine

·         Amitriptaline

·         Amoxapine (Asendin)

·         Asarone/Calamus

·         Atomoxedine

·         Befloxetone

·         Benadryl

·         Benylin

·         Benzedrine

·         Benzphetamine (Didrex)

·         Bicifadine

·         Brasofensine

·         Brofaromine

·         Bromarest-DM or -DX

·         Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

·         Buspirone (BuSpar)

·         Butriptyline

·         Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol)

·         Chlorpheniramine

·         Chlor Trimeton

·         Cimoxetone

·         Citalopram

·         Clomipramine (Anafranil)

·         Cocaine

·         Codeine

·         Compoz

·         Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)

·         Cyclizine (Marezine)

·         Dapoxotine

·         Desipramine (Pertofrane, Norpramin)

·         Desvenlafaxine

·         Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)

·         Dextromethorphan (DXM)

·         Dibenzepin

·         Dienolide kavapyrone desmethoxyyangonin

·         Diethylpropion

·         Dimetane-DX

·         Disopyramide (Norpace)

·         Disulfiram (Antabuse)

·         Dopamine (Intropin)

·         Dosulepin

·         Doxepin (Sinequan)

·         Dristan Cold & Flu

·         Duloxetine

·         Emsam

·         Ephedrine

·         Epinephrine (Adrenalin)

·         Escitalopram

·         Femoxitine

·         Fenfluramine (Pondimin)

·         Flavoxate Hydrochloride (Urispas)

·         Fluoxetine (Prozac)

·         Fluvoxamine

·         Furazolidone (Furoxone)

·         Guanethedine

·         Guanadrel (Hylorel)

·         Guanethidine (Ismelin)

·         Hydralazine (Apresoline)

·         5 Hydroxytryptophan

·         Imipramine (Tofranil)

·         Iprindole

·         Iproniazid (Marsilid, Iprozid, Ipronid, Rivivol, Propilniazida)

·         Iproclozide

·         Isocarboxazid (Marplan)

·         Isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)

·         Isoniazid rifampin (Rifamate, Rimactane)

·         Isoproterenol (Isuprel)

·         L dopa (Sinemet)

·         Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)

·         Linezolid (Zyvox, Zyvoxid)

·         Lithium (Eskalith)

·         Lofepramine

·         Loratadine (Claritin)

·         Macromerine

·         Maprotiline (Ludiomil)

·         MDA

·         MDEA

·         MDMA (Ecstasy)

·         Medifoxamine

·         Melitracen

·         Meperidine (Demerol)

·         Metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel)

·         Metaraminol (Aramine)

·         Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)

·         Methyldopa (Aidomet)

·         Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

·         Mianserin

·         Milnacipran

·         Minaprine

·         Mirtazapine (Remeron)

·         Moclobemide

·         Montelukast (Singulair)

·         Nefazodone

·         Nialamide

·         Nisoxetine

·         Nomifensine

·         Norepinephrine (Levophed)

·         Nortriptyline (Aventyl)

·         Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)

·         Oxymetazoline (Afrin)

·         Orphenadrine (Norflex)

·         Pargyline (Eutonyl)

·         Parnate

·         Paroxetine (Paxil)

·         Pemoline (Cylert)

·         Percocet

·         Pethedine (Demerol)

·         Phendimetrazine (Plegiline)

·         Phenelanine

·         Phenergen

·         Phenmetrazine

·         Phentermine

·         Phenylephrine (Dimetane, Dristan decongestant, Neo Synephrine)

·         Phenylpropanolamine (in many cold medicines)

·         Phenelzine (Nardil)

·         PMA

·         Procarbazine (Matulane)

·         Procainamide (Pronestyl)

·         Protriptyline (Vivactil)

·         Pseudoephedrine

·         Oxymetazoline (Afrin)

·         Quinidine (Quinidex)

·         Rasagiline (Azilect)

·         Reboxetine

·         Reserpine (Serpasil)

·         Risperidone

·         Robitussin

·         Salbutemol

·         Salmeterol

·         Selegiline (Eldepryl)

·         Sertraline (Zoloft)

·         Sibutramine

Additional Specific Contraindicated Drugs:

• Sumatriptan (Imitrex)

• Terfenadine (Seldane D)

• Tegretol

• Temaril

• Tesofensine

• Theophylline (Theo Dur)

• Tianeptine

• Toloxatone

• Tramadol

• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

• Trazodone

• Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)

• Trimipramine (Surmontil)

• Triptans

• Tryptophan

• Tyrosine

• Vanoxerine

• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

• Viloxezine

• Vicks Formula 44-D

• Yohimbine

• Zimelidine

• Ziprasidone (Geodon)

Important Safety Notes:

• Using stimulants with MAO-Is is particularly dangerous and can be potentially fatal.

• Using cocaine, amphetamines, or MDMA (Ecstasy) with MAO-May cause a severe increase in blood pressure, increasing the chances for stroke and cerebral haemorrhage, and making it possible to overdose on a relatively small amount of cocaine.

• There is a recorded fatality involving the combination of Peganum harmala and cocaine.

• Fatalities resulting from combining amphetamines with pharmaceutical MAO-Is are also documented in medical literature.

• Using other serotonin agonists or precursors with an MAO-I can lead to serotonin syndrome.

• The main symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include a severe and long-lasting headache (similar to the MAO-I and tryptamine interaction) and/or fever (as high as 40 °C / 104 °F or more).

Additional Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome:

• Rapid heartbeat

• Shivering

• Sweating

• Dilated pupils

• Intermittent tremor or twitching

• Overactive or over-responsive reflexes

• Hyperactive bowel sounds

• High blood pressure

Severe serotonin syndrome may lead to:

• Shock

• Agitated delirium

• Muscular rigidity and high muscular tension

• Renal failure

• Seizures

• Life-threatening complications

Important Drug Interaction Warnings:

• Using Tricyclic antidepressants within two weeks of taking MAO-May cause serious side effects including:

  • Sudden fever

  • Extremely high blood pressure

  • Convulsions

  • Death

• Using Fluoxetine (Prozac) within six weeks of taking MAO-May cause:

  • High fever

  • Rigidity

  • High blood pressure

  • Mental changes and confusion

  • Hypomania

• Using Benzedrine, Benzphetamine, Desipramine, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Dopamine, Ephedrine (contained in Marax, Quadrinal, and other asthma drugs), and Epinephrine can cause dangerous interactions when combined with MAO-Is.

Additional Drug Interactions and Risks with MAO-Is

The following substances, when taken with MAO inhibitors (MAO-Is), may cause hypertensive crisis (a severe and dangerous spike in blood pressure):

• Guanadrel, Guanethidine, Hydralazine, Isoproterenol, L-dopa, Metaraminol, Methyldopa, Mirtazamine, Norepinephrine, Oxymetazoline, Phendimetrazine, Phentermine, Phenylephrine, Phenylpropanolamine, Pseudoephedrine, Ritalin, Venlafaxine

Specific Interactions:

• Adderall + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause high body temperature, seizures, and coma in severe cases.

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin) within two weeks of MAO-Is:

  
  

  Risk of serious side effects including seizures.

• Buspirone (Buspar) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause high blood pressure and increased sedative effects.

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause fever and increased risk of seizures, especially in epileptics.

• Clomipramine + MAO-Is:

  
  

  Can cause high fever (hyperpyrexic crisis) and seizures.

• CNS depressants + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May increase depressant effects.

• Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  Risk of hypertensive crisis.

• Dextromethorphan + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause excitement, high blood pressure, fever, or brief psychosis episodes.

• Fenfluramine + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause fever (hyperpyrexic crisis).

• Lithium + MAO-Is:

  
  

  Risk of fever and serotonin syndrome.

• Meperidine (Demerol) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  Deaths reported from a single dose.

• Metaproterenol and other beta-adrenergic bronchodilators + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause blood pressure elevation and rapid heartbeat.

• Mirtazapine (Remeron) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  Risk of hypertensive crisis.

• Nefazodone (Serzone) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause high fever.

• Temaril + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May increase the chance of side effects.

• Terfenadine + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause increased MAO-I blood levels.

• Theophylline + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause rapid heartbeat and anxiety.

• Trazodone (Desyrel) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  Risk of high fever.

• Tryptophan or L-tryptophan + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause disorientation, confusion, amnesia, delirium, agitation, memory impairment, hypomanic signs, and shivering.

• Venlafaxine (Effexor) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  Risk of hypertensive crisis.

• Ziprasidone (Geodon) + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause serotonin syndrome.

Additional Warnings:

• Alcohol + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause side effects like angina (chest pain) or headaches.

  
  

  The headache could mask or be mistaken for hypertensive crisis.

  
  

  MAO-Is may also increase alcohol's sedative effect.

• Opiates + MAO-Is:

  
  

  Risk of respiratory depression.

• Diuretics + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May cause a greater drop in blood pressure than normal and increase MAO-I blood levels.

• Anaesthetics + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May potentiate aesthetic effects.

• Sleeping pills, tranquilizers (major or minor), barbiturates + MAO-Is:

  
  

  May increase sedative effects.