If you have any serious health conditions, such as kidney, liver, heart diseases, or other significant medical issues, or if you or your immediate family member have a history of seizures, you must inform us about it before booking the retreat to discuss your specific situation.
1 Epilepsy / Seizures
If you or your close family member have had epilepsy and/or seizures, you must inform us about it during the consultation before the retreat.
2 Diabetes
People with diabetes face additional risks when consuming Ayahuasca. The presence of MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) in Ayahuasca can affect blood sugar levels due to hypoglycemic effects. MAOIs may alter the required dosage of insulin or oral diabetic medications. Individuals with severe unstable diabetes should not participate in an Ayahuasca ceremony due to this risk. If you have a milder form of diabetes, you must inform us during the consultation before the retreat, and adjustments to the diet may be necessary.
3 Heart/Cardiovascular Diseases
If you have any chronic heart conditions or high blood pressure, participating in an Ayahuasca ceremony is not recommended. Ayahuasca use can raise blood pressure and pose serious or potentially fatal risks for individuals with serious heart conditions or high blood pressure. If you have a mild cardiovascular condition, it is important to inform us.
4 Liver and Kidney Diseases
Ayahuasca can be taxing on the liver and kidneys, as these organs play a crucial role in metabolizing both exogenous and endogenous chemicals. Ayahuasca contains harmine and related alkaloids that act as MAO inhibitors, which can strain the liver and gastrointestinal tract. If there are still various monoamines in your system from diet, environmental exposure, or pharmaceutical or recreational drugs, they will accumulate in the presence of MAOIs, creating additional stress for the liver and kidneys.
5 Hypothyroidism
If you have hypothyroidism, it is generally safe to participate in Ayahuasca ceremonies. However, you must inform us about your condition so that the optimal dosage of Ayahuasca can be chosen. You can also continue taking thyroid medications (synthetic hormones such as Synthroid) during the retreat without complications.
6 Mental Health Conditions
Individuals suffering from borderline disorders, bipolar disorders, psychoses, and schizophrenia (including drug-induced) are at psychological risk if they consume Ayahuasca. If you suffer from mild borderline or bipolar disorder, all details can be discussed during the pre-retreat consultation. In general, Ayahuasca has been shown to have a positive overall psychological impact on participants. However, if you suffer from depression, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or anxiety, please contact us to discuss the specifics of your condition, including any prescribed medications, before booking the retreat.
7 Medication Policy
If you are taking any medications, it is essential to inform us about them during the consultation before the retreat. Failure to comply with this rule can put your health at risk. We also recommend excluding other substances or medications, including herbal medicines, when consuming Ayahuasca or following a diet with other medicinal plants, for both your safety and to avoid interfering with the plants’ energy or efficacy.
Prescription medications, certain supplements, and illegal drugs should be discontinued at least 2-8 weeks before consuming Ayahuasca, depending on the specific type of medication or supplement. The exception is synthetic hormones used for hypothyroidism. Many over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, require discontinuation 48 hours before Ayahuasca use, although we recommend stopping them 2 weeks prior. Specific medications, such as MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) and SSRIs, in combination with Ayahuasca, can cause serious health complications and therefore require a longer cessation period. Please consult the detailed list below for descriptions of specific medications and the recommended cessation period.
Remember to always consult with a healthcare provider when discontinuing any prescription medications. Some medications may have withdrawal effects, ranging from moderate to severe, so additional time may be needed to safely stop them. When consulting with your doctor, inform them that you will be using a reversible MAOI.
8 Mental Health Conditions
Individuals suffering from borderline disorders, bipolar disorders, psychoses, and schizophrenia (including drug-induced) are at psychological risk if they consume Ayahuasca. If you suffer from mild borderline or bipolar disorder, all details can be discussed during the pre-retreat consultation. In general, Ayahuasca has been shown to have a positive overall psychological impact on participants. However, if you suffer from depression, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or anxiety, please contact us to discuss the specifics of your condition, including any prescribed medications, before booking the retreat.
9 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
4-6 weeks before the retreat. Ayahuasca is a very potent natural MAOI, and should not be combined with other MAOIs. MAOI combinations can lead to complications in neurotransmitter and digestive regulation, such as hypertensive crisis, seizures, fever, delirium, coma, and vascular collapse. Withdrawal symptoms can occur when discontinuing prescription MAOIs, so it’s important to consult with a physician on how to reduce the dosage.
Why? Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme responsible for breaking down certain neurotransmitters in the brain. When this enzyme's activity is suppressed, more norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine are available in the brain to send critical messages and regulate mood. This enzyme is also important in the digestive process.
Medications: Marplan (isocarboxazid), Nardil (phenelzine), Emsam, Eldepil, and Zelapar (selegiline), Parnate (tranylcypromine), Aurorix and Manerix (moclobemide), Pyrazidol (pirindol).
10 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
6 to 8 weeks before, 4 weeks after. Combining Ayahuasca (MAOI) and SSRIs is potentially life-threatening. Any drug that affects the serotonin system, such as SSRIs, may cause serotonin syndrome when combined with Ayahuasca. It’s crucial to give the drug enough time to leave your body and allow yourself time to adjust to not taking the medication, as withdrawal effects may occur. Prozac requires stopping 8 weeks before using Ayahuasca due to a longer half-life. All other SSRIs require 6 weeks. Do not stop medications without prior consultation with a physician.
Why? Ayahuasca is an MAOI that makes certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, more available in the brain. SSRIs inhibit serotonin reuptake. Combining these two substances will cause excess and/or overload in serotoninergic activity within the central nervous system and peripheral serotonin receptors.
Medications: Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro and Cipralex (escitalopram), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil and Seroxat (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft and Lustral (sertraline).
11 Other Antidepressants
6 weeks before, 4 weeks after. Antidepressants other than SSRIs, such as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), norepinephrine inhibitors (NRIs), norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs), noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs), and serotonin modulators and stimulators (SMSs) may cause severe complications when combined with Ayahuasca. Combining with MAOIs may result in neurotransmitter overload, leading to severe health complications. It is essential to give the drug sufficient time to leave your body and adjust to not taking the medication as withdrawal symptoms may occur. Do not stop medications without prior consultation with a physician.
Why? Ayahuasca is an MAOI that makes certain neurotransmitters more available in the brain. Other antidepressants also alter brain neurochemistry, which can combine to cause severe health complications.
Medications: SNRIs: Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Fetzima (levomilnacipran), Ixel and Savella (milnacipran), Effexor (venlafaxine), SARIs: Axiomin and Etonin (etoperidone), Serzon and Nefadar (nefazodone), YM-992, YM-35,995 (lubaZodone), Desyrel (trazodone), NRI: Strattera (atomoxetine), Edronax (reboxetine), Vivalan (viloxazine), NDRIs: Wellbutrin and Zyban (bupropion), TCAs: Elavil and Endep (amitriptyline), Evaden (butriptyline), Anafril (clomipramine), Norpramin and PertoFran (desipramine), Protiaden (dosulepin, dothiepin), Adapin and Sinequan (doxepin), Tofranil (imipramine), Prondol (iprendol), Feprepax, Gammanil, Lomont (lofepraMINE), Pamelor (nortriptyline), Insidon (opipramol), Vavactil (protriptyline), Surmontil (trimipramine), TeCAs and NaSSAs: Asendin (amoxapine), Ludomil (maprotiline), Lumin, Bolvidon, Norval, Tolvon (mianserin), Remeron (mirtazapine), SMS: Viibryd (vilazodone), Brintellix (vortioxetine).
12 Сentral Nervous System Depressants (and Sedatives)
3-4 weeks before. CNS depressants, such as certain tranquilizers and sedatives, should not be used with Ayahuasca due to serious health risks. The use of Ayahuasca may enhance the depressant action of CNS depressants, leading to slowed brain activity, heart rate, and respiration. CNS depressants have a shorter half-life, so they can be stopped 3 weeks before using Ayahuasca. Dependence on CNS depressants can easily develop, so withdrawal symptoms may occur when stopping these medications. Please seek medical assistance.
Medications: Benzodiazepines: Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Halcion (triazolam), Prosom (estazolam), Non-benzodiazepine sleep medications: Ambien (zolpidem), Lunesta (eszopiclone), Sonata (zaleplon), Barbiturates: Mebaral (mephobarbital), Luminal Sodium (phenobarbital), Nembutal (pentobarbital), and any other barbiturates.
14 Antihypertensive Medications (Blood Pressure Medication)
2-6 weeks before, depending on the medication. There are many classes of antihypertensive medications that lower blood pressure in various ways. Among the most important and widely used are thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Always ask your doctor about discontinuing medications and please inform them that you will be taking reversible MAOIs.
Medications: Beta-blockers: Atenolol, Metoprolol, Nadolol, Nebivolol, Oxprenolol, Pindolol, Propanolol, Timolol. Alpha-blockers: Doxazosin, Phentolamine, Indoramine, Phenoxybenzamine, Prazosin, Terazosin, Tolazoline, Mixed Alpha & Beta-blockers: Bucindolol, Carvedilol, Labetalol, Calcium channel blockers: Amlodipine, Clinidipine, Felodipine, Isradipine, Lercanidipine, Levamlodipine, Nicardipine, Nifedipine, Nimodipine, Nitredipine, Diltiazem, Verapamil, ACE inhibitors: Captopril, Enalapril, Fosinopril, Lisinopril, Perindopril, Quinapril, Ramipril, Trandolapril, Benazepril, Angiotensin II receptor antagonists: Candesartan, Eprosartan, Irbesartan, Losartan, Olmesartan, Telmisartan, Valsartan.