AYAHUASCA MEDICAL GUIDELINES
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We take our work very seriously at Casa Galactica, especially with plant medicines. Whether you are joining us for 1 night of ceremony or a deep healing retreat, there is still an application process to go through and preparation to do on your side. This ensures your safety and that of others within the ceremony. This also allows you to mentally and physically prepare to obtain the most out of your healing experience with us.
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Ayahuasca is a strong Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) and is incompatible with many different medications, pharmaceuticals and drugs. Drinking Ayahuasca whilst these are still within your system may lead to severe injury, trauma or even death.
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Prior to being accepted to attend our deep healing ayahuasca ceremonies or ayahuasca plant spirit healing retreats, we require full disclosure of any medications which you have been taking as well as any medical conditions. You may require to stop taking these medications under the supervision of your doctor. This is highly important and essential for the safety of yourself and other participants within the ceremony.
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All non-prescribed pharmaceuticals should be stopped a minimum of 2 weeks before drinking ayahuasca with us.
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If we suspect that you have taken any of the prohibited medications, drugs, alcohol or not adhered to the required wash out periods as part of the diet and preparation resrtrictions + guidelines, we reserve the right to refuse your entrance into the ceremony without refund.
Recreational / Street Drugs
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Illegal or recreational drugs that are VERY dangerous to combine with MAOIs:
– cocaine
– amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine), ephedrine, MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, MDEA, PMA
– opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine, and especially opium)
– dextromethorphan (DXM)
– nutmeg
– 5-Meo-DMT
There are recorded fatalities from the combination of cocaine with MAOIs and 5-Meo-DMT with MAOIs.
Illegal or recreational drugs that can potentially be dangerous to combine with MAOIs:
– mescaline (any phenethylamine)
– barbiturates
– alcohol
– kratom
– kava
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Psychological Conditions
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Previous psychological conditions must be declared prior to attended an ayahuasca ceremony or retreat. We are able to work with people with previous conditions, yet we must be aware so that we are able to treat you in a safe and effective way. Failure to disclose this can result in serious traumatization of yourself or others. We treat each individual on a case by case basis. Should we deem that ayahuasca is not a good fit for your current condition, then we will be able to effectively work with and treat you in other ways that do not involve you ingesting ayahuasca.
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Pharmaceuticals + Medical Conditions
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Any medication that includes MAOI’s (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors are known to be very dangerous when taken together with ayahuasca. This is also dangerous if there are residual amounts of these medicantions within your system at the time of drinking ayahuasca. You will need to stop taking these medications under supervision of your doctor. You will require a washout period of a minimum of 2-4 weeks depending upon the medication.
Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitator (SSRI’s) i.e antidepressenants such as WEllburtin, Prozac, Zoloft, Effector or any other medication which has an effect on the serotonin system are highly dangerous to combine with ayahuasca. If combined with ayahuasca they can induce serotonin syndrome (at a far more severe level than foods containing tryptophan) and cause fatality.
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Therefore we require all participants to stop taking SSRI medications under the supervision or their doctor before applying for a ceremony or retreat. Some of these different medications may have different side effects upon discontinuing their use. Therefore we require sufficient time for the medication to be washed out of the body (minimum of 2-4 weeks depending upon the medication and also for the side effects to subside. Do not stop taking these medications abruptly without first discussing this with your own doctor. We also require a washout period of 2 weeks for the herbal supplement St. Johns Wort (hypericum perforatum)
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Anyone who is pregnant, has a heart condition or chronic high blood pressure is not suitable to drink ayahuasca. There are many other ways that we can assist you in your own healing, including attending the ceremony without ingesting ayahuasca. Healing occurs by joining the ceremony as the curandero sings healing songs to be able to assist you in your own healing process. We also offer other deep healing sessions online + in-person that are suitable for people with these conditions.
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Special note to diabetics: MAOIs may change the amount of insulin or oral antidiabetic medication that you need
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Drugs and medications that can be dangerous with MAOIs:
– other MAOIs
– SSRI’s (any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)
– antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine)
–sedatives,
–tranquilizers,
–amphetamines (including Adderall),
–some hypertensive medications,
–carbamazipine,
–methylphemidate (Ritalin),
–macromerine,
–phenelanine,
– tyrosine, tryptophan,
–asarone/calamus,
apetite suppressants (diet pills)
some asthma inhalers,
– medicine for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems; antihistamines, medicines for colds, decongestants, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies (Actifed DM, Benadryl, Benylin, Chlor-Trimeton, Compoz, Bromarest DM or DX, Dimetane DX cough syrup, Dristan Cold & Flu, Phenergan with Dextromethorphan, Robitussin-DM, Vicks Formula 44-D, several Tylenol cold, cough, and flu preparations, and many others) — anything containing dextromethorphan/ DXM or with DM, DX or Tuss in its name, –sympathomimetic aminesor anything containing pseudoephedrine or epherdrine .
– CNS (central nervous system) depressants
– vasodilators
– antipsychotics
– barbiturates
– alcohol
Some specific pharmaceutical drugs that should not be combined with MAOIs (some are mild risks, others serious):
– Actifed
– Adderall
– Alaproclate
– Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)
– Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)
– Amiflamine
– Amineptine
– Amitriptaline
– Amoxapine (Asendin)
– Atomoxedine
– Bazinaprine
– Befloxetone’
– Befol
– Benadryl
– Benmoxinb (Nerusil, Neuralex)
– Benylin
– Benzedrine
– Benzphetamine (Didrex)
– Bicifadine
– Brasofensine
– Brofaromine (Consonar)
– Buprenorphine
– Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
– Buspirone (BuSpar)
– Butriptyline
– Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol)
– Chlorpheniramine
– Chlor-Trimeton
– Cimoxetone
– Citalopram (Celexa)
– Clomipramine (Anafranil)
– Clorgyline
– Codeine
– Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
– Cyclizine (Marezine)
– D-deprenyl
– Dapoxotine
– Desipramine (Pertofrane, Norpramin)
– Desvenlafaxine
– Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
– Dextromethorphan (DXM)
– Dibenzepin
– Dienolide kavapyrone desmethoxyyangonin
– Diethylpropion
– Disopyramide (Norpace)
– Disulfiram (Antabuse)
– Dobutamine
– Dopamine (Intropin)
– Dosulepin
– Doxepin (Sinequan)
– Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
– Emsam
– Entacapone
– Ephedrine
– Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
– Escitalopram (Lexapro)
– Esuprone
– Etorphine
– Femoxitine
– Fenfluramine (Pondimin)
– Flavoxate Hydrochloride (Urispas)
– Fluoxetine (Prozac)
– Fluvoxamine
– Furazolidone (Furoxone)
– Gabapentin
– Guanethedine
– Guanadrel (Hylorel)
– Guanethidine (Ismelin)
– Hydralazine (Apresoline)
– Hydrazine
– 5-Hydroxytryptophan
– Imipramine (Tofranil)
– Iprindole
– Iproniazid (Marsilid, Iprozid, Ipronid, Rivivol, Propilniazida)
– Iproclozide (Sursum)
– Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
– Isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)
– Isoniazid rifampin (Rifamate, Rimactane)
– Isoproterenol (Isuprel)
– L-dopa (Sinemet)
– Ladostigil
– Lazabemide (Pakio, Tempium)
– Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
– Linezolid (Zyvox, Zyvoxid)
– Lithium (Eskalith)
– Lofepramine
– Loratadine (Claritin)
– Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
– Mebanazine (Actomol)
– Medifoxamine
– Melitracen
– Meperidine (Demerol)
– Metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel)
– Metaraminol (Aramine)
– Metfendrazine (Inkazan)
– Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
– Methyldopa (Aidomet)
– Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
– Metralindole
– Mianserin
– Milacimide
– Milnacipran
– Minaprine (Cantor)
– Mirtazapine (Remeron)
– Mofegeline
– Moclobemide (Aurorix, Manerix)
– Monomethylhydrazine
– Montelukast (Singulair)
– Nalbufrine
– Naloxone
– Naltrexone
– Nefazodone
– Nialamide (Niamid)
– Nisoxetine
– Nomifensine
– Norepinephrine (Levophed)
– Nortriptyline (Aventyl)
– Octamoxin (Ximaol, Nimaol)
– Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)
– Oxycodone
– Oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dimetapp)
– Oxymorphone
– Orphenadrine (Norflex)
– Pargyline (Eutonyl)
– Parnate
– Paroxetine (Paxil)
– Pemoline (Cylert)
– Percocet
– Pethedine (Demerol)
– Phendimetrazine (Plegiline)
– Phenelzine (Nardil)
– Phenergen
– Phenelzine (Nardil, Nardelzine)
– Pheniprazine (Catron)
– Phenmetrazine
– Phenoxypropazine (Drazine)
– Phentermine
– Phenylephrine (Dimetane, Dristan decongestant, Neo-Synephrine)
– Phenylhydrazine
– Phenylpropanolamine (found in many cold medicines)
– Phenelzine (Nardil)
– Pirlindole (Pirazidol)
– Procarbazine (Matulane)
– Procainamide (Pronestyl)
– Protriptyline (Vivactil)
– Pseudoephedrine
– Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
– Quinidine (Quinidex)
– Rasagiline (Azilect)
– Reboxetine
– Reserpine (Serpasil)
– Risperidone
– Salbutemol
– Salmeterol
– Selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar)
– Sercloramine
– Sertraline (Zoloft)
– Sibutramine
– Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
– Terfenadine (Seldane-D)
– Tegretol
– Temaril
– Tesofensine
– Tetrindole
– Theophylline (Theo-Dur)
– Thesbutiaint
– Thioridazine (Mellaril)
– Tianeptine
– Tolcapone
– Toloxatone (Humoryl)
– Tramadol
– Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
– Trazodone
– Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)
– Trimipramine (Surmontil)
– Triptans
– Tyrima
– Vanoxerine
– Venlafaxine (Effexor)
– Viloxezine
– Yohimbine
– Zimelidine
– Ziprasidone (Geodon)
NATURAL HERBS
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Also avoid the following herbs for a minimum of 48 hours before and after your ceremony / retreat
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St. Johns Wort (if it has been taken regularly, needs two weeks to clear the system)
Betel
Boswellia
Carrot seed
Chamomile
Cowhage
Curcumin
Dill seed
Ephedra
Fennel seed
Fo-Ti
Ginseng
Horny Goat Weed
Kanna
Kava
Kratom
Licorice Root
Nutmeg
Parsley seed
Rhodiola Rosea
Scotch Broom
Siberian Ginseng
Sinicuichi
Turmeric
Yerba Mate
Yohimbe
Additional Information
Using stimulants with MAOIs is particularly dangerous and can be potentially fatal. Using cocaine, amphetamines or MDMA (Ecstasy) with MAOIs may cause a severe increase in blood pressure, increasing the chances for stroke and cerebral hemorrhage. MAOIs may make it possible to overdose on a relatively small amount of cocaine. (A fatality has been recorded involving combination of Peganum harmala and cocaine. Fatalities resulting from combining amphetamines with pharmaceutical MAOIs are recorded in the medical literature.)
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Using other serotonin agonists (SSRIs) or precursors with an MAOI can lead to serotonin syndrome.Serotinin syndrome is rare, but can be fatal. The main symptom of serotonin syndrome may be a severe and long-lasting headache (the same symptom as MAOI tyramine interaction) and/or fever (as high as 40 °C / 104 °F or more) Other symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include rapid heartbeat, shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, intermittent tremor or twitching, overactive or overresponsive reflexes, hyperactive bowel sounds, high blood pressure. Severe serotonin syndrome may lead to shock, agitated delirium, muscular rigidity and high muscular tension, abnormal blood clotting and bleeding, respiratory failure, renal failure, and seizures, and can be life-threatening. This interaction can happen even if weeks have passed between stopping the SSRI and taking the MAOI. For further information on serotonin syndrome see this web page: http://www.psychotropical.com/
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Using other MAOIs with Ayahuasca may result in hypertensive crisis, convulsive seizures, fever, marked sweating, excitation, delirium, tremor, coma and circulatory collapse.
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Using 5-MEO-DMT with Ayahuasca or Ayahuasca analogs can be fatal. There is a documented case of fatality combining 5-MeO-DMT with Ayahuasca and another documented case of fatality combining 5-MeO-DMT with an Ayahuasca analog.
Using opiates (opium, heroin, morphine, codeine) or barbiturates with MAOIs can increase the sedative effect and result in respiratory depression. Using MAOIs with heroin or morphine can theoretically push a normal dose to the overdose threshold.
Opium (whether smoked or drunk as tea) is especially dangerous to combine with MAOIs, because it contains not only morphine and codeine, but another active alkaloid called thebaine, which can cause convulsions when combined with MAOIs, and which is also a stimulant (see above paragraph on stimulants). Painkillers synthesized from thebaine (buprenorphine, etorphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, nalbuphine, naloxone, naltrexone) should also be regarded as highly dangerous to combine with MAOIs.
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Using alcohol with MAOIs may cause side effects like angina (chest pain) or headaches. The headache may mask or be mistaken for hypertensive crisis caused by MAOI interaction. MAOIs can also increase the sedative effect of alcohol.
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Using diuretics with MAOIs may cause a greater drop in blood pressure than normal and increase in MAOI blood levels.
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Using anesthetics with MAOIs may potentiate or increase the anesthetic effect.
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Using sleeping pills or tranquilizers (major or minor) with MAOIs may increase the sedative effect.
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Using nutmeg (at psychoactive levels) with MAOIs can cause hypotensive crisis (extremely low blood pressure), rapid heartbeat, unconsciousness and potentially death.
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Using cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) with MAOIs may result in high blood pressure, although there are unverified reports of this plant (of African and Asian origin) being used in some Ayahuasca preparations because of its minor DMT and 5-MeO-DMT content.
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Using vasodilators with Ayahuasca may cause fainting (which carries the slight risk of choking on vomit) and increases the chances of having an experience in which one believes one is dying. Using vasodilators immediately after an Ayahuasca session also carries the risk of fainting or passing out.
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Using Tricyclic antidepressants within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects including sudden fever, extremely high blood pressure, convulsions, and death.
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Using Fluoxetine (Prozac) within five weeks of taking MAOIs may cause high fever, rigidity, high blood pressure, mental changes, confusion and hypomania.
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Using Amitryptamine or Amoxipine with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
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Using Benzedrine, Benzphetamine, Desipramine, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Dopamine, Ephedrine (contained in Marax, Quadrinal, and other asthma drugs), Epinephrine, Guanadrel, Guanethidine, Hydralazine, Isoproterenol, L-dopa, Metaraminol, Methyldopa, Mirtazamine, Norepinephrine Oxymetazoline, Phendimetrazine, Phentermine, Phenylephrine, Phenylpropanolamine, Pseudoephedrine, Ritalin, or Venlafaxine with MAOIs may cause a hypertensive crisis (severe spike in blood pressure) which can lead to brain hemorrhage or stroke.
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Using Adderall with MAOIs can result in high body temperature (hyperpyrexic crisis), severe increase in blood pressure (hypertensive crisis), seizures, and coma. (see paragraph above on stimulants)
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Using Bupropion (Wellbutrin) within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects such as seizures.
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Using Buspirone (Buspar) with MAOIs may cause high blood pressure and increased sedative effects.
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Using Carbamazepine (Tegretol) with MAOIs may result in fever (hyperpyrexic crisis) and may cause seizures, or increase seizures in epileptics.
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Using Citalopram with MAOIs may result in severe and sometimes fatal reactions involving elevations in blood pressure, hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic instability. This drug should be ceased a minimum of two weeks before taking Ayahuasca.
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Using Clomipramine with MAOIs may cause high fever (hyperpyrexic crisis), seizures, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and death.
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Using CNS depressants with MAOIs may increase the depressant effects.
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Using Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis, hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
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Using Dextromethorphan (DXM) at psychoactive levels with MAOIs may cause serotonin syndrome, extremely high blood pressure (hypertensive crisis), high body temperature (hyperpyrexic crisis), episodes of psychosis, and in high doses can potentially be fatal.
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Using Dobutamine with MAOIs may precipitate severe hypertensive reaction.
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Using Doxepin with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
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Using Entacapone with MAOIs can stop the catalyst enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) from metabolizing levodopa to 3-O-methyldopa in the periphery, and in the brain.
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Using Fenfluramine with MAOIs may result in fever (hyperpyrexic crisis).
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Using Fluoxedine or Fluvaoxamine with MAOIs may result in severe and sometimes fatal reactions involving elevations in blood pressure, hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic instability. This drug should be ceased a minimum of two weeks before taking Ayahuasca.
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Using Gabapentin with MAOIs may result in increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and/or seizures.
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Using Horny Goat Weed with MAOIs may result in hypotensive crisis (severe blood pressure drop).
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Using Imipramine with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
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Using Isoproterenol with MAOIs may precipitate severe hypertensive crisis.
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Using Kava with MAOIs may result in hypotensive crisis (severe blood pressure drop).
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Using Levodopa with MAOIs can stop the catalyst enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) from metabolizing levodopa to 3-O-methyldopa in the periphery, and in the brain.
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Using Linezolid with MAOIs can cause serotonin syndrome.
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Using Lithium with MAOIs may cause fever (hyperpyrexic crisis) and serotonin syndrome (see serotonin syndrome above).
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Using Meperidine (Demerol) with pharmaceutical MAOIs has resulted in deaths from a single dose. Immediate onset of sweating, rigidity and hypertension can occur.
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Using Metaproterenol or other beta-adrenergic bronchodilators with MAOIs may cause blood pressure elevation and rapid heartbeat.
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Using Mirtazapine (Remeron) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis.
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Using Nefazodone (Serzone) may result in high fever (hyperpyrexic crisis).
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Using Paroxitine (Paxil) with MAOIs may result in severe and sometimes fatal reactions involving elevations in blood pressure, hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic instability. This drug should be ceased a minimum of two weeks before taking Ayahuasca.
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Using Sertraline with MAOIs may result in severe and sometimes fatal reactions involving elevations in blood pressure, hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic instability. This drug should be ceased a minimum of two weeks before taking Ayahuasca.
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Using Temaril with MAOIs may increase chance of side effects.
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Using Terfenadine with MAOIs may cause an increase in MAOI blood levels.
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Using Theophylline with MAOIs may cause rapid heartbeat and anxiety.
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Using Tolcapone with MAOIs can stop the catalyst enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) from metabolizing levodopa to 3-O-methyldopa in the periphery, and in the brain.
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Using Trazodone (Desyrel) with MAOIs may result in high fever (hyperpyrexic crisis).
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Using Tryptophan or L-tryptophan with MAOIs may cause disorientation, confusion, amnesia, delirium agitation, memory impairment, hypomanic signs, shivering.
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Using Venlafaxine (Effexor) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis or serotonin syndrome.
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Using Ziprasidone (Geodon) with MAOIs may cause serotonin syndrome.
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Using Zoloft (Sertraline) with MAOIs has produced fatal cases of serotonin syndrome, and can also result in fever, muscle rigidity, instability of the autonomic nervous system, delirium, and coma.
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Special note to diabetics: MAOIs may change the amount of insulin or oral antidiabetic medication that you need