Medical Guidelines for Participation

Medical Guidelines for participation

General Safety Considerations

At The Ayahuasca Foundation, your safety is our top priority. To ensure a safe experience, it is essential that you inform us about any medical conditions or medications you are taking, including prescription, non-prescription, or herbal supplements, before registering for an ayahuasca retreat. Any serious physical or mental health issues that might complicate the use of ayahuasca must also be disclosed to the facilitator.

By joining our retreats, you acknowledge that participation is at your own risk and that The Ayahuasca Foundation is not liable for any accidents or injuries. Our recommendations are based on our expertise with ayahuasca and its potential health implications. However, you should consult your doctor or a medical professional for advice about your specific health conditions and medications. If you are stopping any medications, particularly antidepressants, please follow your doctor’s guidance. All decisions about your suitability for a retreat are made with your safety in mind.

Medications Policy

It is mandatory to disclose all medications you have taken in the past year. Certain medications and supplements can interact dangerously with ayahuasca, and most need to be discontinued for a specific period beforehand. Always consult your doctor before stopping any medication, particularly:

Ayahuasca and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs):

Ayahuasca contains natural MAOIs and should never be combined with prescription MAOI medications. Doing so can disrupt the regulation of neurotransmitters and digestion, potentially leading to severe and life-threatening complications.

Risks of Combining MAOIs
The combination of ayahuasca with other MAOIs can result in:

Hypertensive Crisis: Critically high blood pressure.
Convulsive Seizures: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain.
Fever and Delirium: Severe disorientation and dangerously elevated body temperature.
Coma and Circulatory Collapse: Loss of consciousness and failure of blood circulation.

Why This Happens
Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that clears neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine from the brain. Inhibiting this enzyme increases the availability of these chemicals, which can positively affect mood and communication between brain cells. However, excess inhibition, particularly from combining MAOIs, can overload the system and disrupt both brain and digestive functions.

Tapering Off Prescription MAOIs
Discontinuing prescription MAOIs requires careful planning to avoid withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can include headaches, irritability, fatigue, and mood swings. Always consult your doctor to create a safe tapering plan.

Examples of Prescription MAOIs
Avoid ayahuasca if you are taking any of the following medications:

Isocarboxazid: Marplan
Phenelzine: Nardil
Selegiline: Emsam, Eldepryl, Zelapar
Tranylcypromine: Parnate
Moclobemide: Aurorix, Manerix
Pirlindole: Pirazidol

Precautionary Guidelines

Discontinue MAOIs at least 2 weeks before using ayahuasca, depending on the medication.

Inform Your Facilitator: Be honest about your medication history when preparing for an ayahuasca ceremony.

Medical Supervision: Always work with a healthcare provider to ensure a safe transition off MAOIs.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs):

Discontinue at least 4 weeks before and avoid for at least 2 weeks after. Combining SSRIs with ayahuasca is potentially life-threatening due to the risk of serotonin syndrome, a condition caused by excessive serotonin activity in the body. Proper timing and medical guidance are crucial to ensure safety.

Risks of Combining SSRIs with Ayahuasca
SSRIs work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, increasing its levels in the brain. Ayahuasca, as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), also increases serotonin availability. When combined, this can lead to serotonin syndrome, which may include:
Confusion and agitation
High blood pressure and rapid heart rate
Muscle rigidity and tremors
Seizures
Elevated body temperature, potentially resulting in organ failure

Discontinuation Guidelines

Prozac (fluoxetine): Due to its long half-life, discontinue 6 weeks before using ayahuasca.
Other SSRIs: Cease use 4 weeks prior to ayahuasca.
Post-Ceremony: Avoid restarting SSRIs for at least 2 weeks after ayahuasca.

Other Anti-Depressants:

Discontinue at least 4 weeks prior and at least 2 weeks after. Combining ayahuasca with other types of antidepressants can result in severe health risks due to potential neurotransmitter overload. These interactions may lead to dangerous complications such as serotonin syndrome, cardiovascular stress, or nervous system dysfunction.

Why This Precaution Is Necessary
Ayahuasca increases the availability of neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. Many antidepressants also alter neurotransmitter levels. When combined, the excess activity in the brain and body may cause:
Syndrome: Confusion, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and seizures.
Cardiovascular Issues: Hypertensive crisis or circulatory collapse.
Neurological Problems: Overstimulation of the nervous system, potentially causing convulsions or coma.

Discontinuation Guidelines

Pre-Program: Stop antidepressants at least 4 weeks prior to ayahuasca use.
Post-Program: Avoid restarting for at least 2 weeks to allow the body to stabilize.
Tapering Off: Consult your doctor for a safe discontinuation plan, as stopping antidepressants abruptly may result in withdrawal symptoms, including dizziness, anxiety, nausea, and insomnia.

Types of Antidepressants to Avoid

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs):
Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)
Cymbalta (duloxetine)
Fetzima (levomilnacipran)
Ixel, Savella (milnacipran)
Effexor (venlafaxine)

Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs):
Axiomin, Etonin (etoperidone)
Serzone, Nefadar (nefazodone)
Desyrel (trazodone)
YM-992, YM-35,995 (lubazodone)

Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs):
Strattera (atomoxetine)
Edronax (reboxetine)
Vivalan (viloxazine)

Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs):
Wellbutrin, Zyban (bupropion)

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs):
Elavil, Endep (amitriptyline)
Anafril (clomipramine)
Norpramin, Pertofrane (desipramine)
Prothiaden (dosulepin/dothiepin)
Adapin, Sinequan (doxepin)
Tofranil (imipramine)
Pamelor (nortriptyline)
Surmontil (trimipramine)

Tetracyclic Antidepressants (TeCAs) & Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressants (NaSSAs):
Asendin (amoxapine)
Ludiomil (maprotiline)
Tolvon (mianserin)
Remeron (mirtazapine)

Serotonin Modulators and Stimulators (SMSs):
Viibryd (vilazodone)
Brintellix (vortioxetine)

Preparation Guidelines

Full Disclosure: Inform your ayahuasca facilitator about your medication history.
Medical Support: Work with a healthcare provider to safely transition off antidepressants.
Monitoring: Be attentive to withdrawal symptoms during tapering and discontinuation.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants (and sleeping pills):

Discontinue at least 2 weeks before, depending on the medication type. CNS depressants, such as anti-anxiety medications and sleep aids, must not be used with ayahuasca due to significant health risks. Ayahuasca amplifies the depressant effects of these medications, potentially causing dangerously slow brain activity, heart rhythm, and respiration.

Key Points:
CNS depressants include benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine sleep medications, and barbiturates.

Dependency on CNS depressants can develop quickly, so withdrawal symptoms are possible. Consult your doctor for a safe discontinuation plan.

Examples of CNS Depressants:

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).

Anti-Hypertensives (Blood Pressure Medications):

Discontinue at least 2 weeks before, depending on the medication type. Always consult your doctor about stopping these medications and inform them you will be taking a reversible MAOI.

Common Classes and Examples:

Beta Blockers: atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, timolol, etc.
Alpha Blockers: doxazosin, prazosin, terazosin, etc.
Mixed Alpha & Beta Blockers: carvedilol, labetalol, bucindolol.
Calcium Channel Blockers: amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem, etc.
ACE Inhibitors: lisinopril, ramipril, enalapril, captopril, etc.
Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists: losartan, valsartan, telmisartan, etc.

Recreational Drugs: Discontinue at Least 2 Weeks Prior

Combining recreational drugs with ayahuasca can pose severe health risks and must be avoided. Ayahuasca’s psychoactive properties interact dangerously with many substances, increasing the risk of life-threatening complications such as serotonin syndrome, respiratory depression, or cardiovascular distress.

Drugs to Avoid Completely

These substances must never be combined with ayahuasca due to extreme health risks:
Stimulants: Cocaine, amphetamines, and their derivatives (e.g., methamphetamine).
MDMA (Ecstasy): Including derivatives such as MDA or similar compounds.
Dextromethorphan (DXM): Found in over-the-counter cough suppressants.
Drugs That Pose Significant Risk

While the risk is comparatively lower, the following drugs still pose health risks when combined with ayahuasca and should be discontinued entirely:
Opiates: Morphine, heroin, codeine, and synthetic opioids.
Mescaline and Phenethylamines: Includes mescaline-containing cacti and other phenethylamine-based substances.
Barbiturates: Such as phenobarbital or pentobarbital.
Marijuana: Due to its psychoactive effects and interaction with the mental and emotional process of ayahuasca.
Other Psychoactives: Any hallucinogens or mind-altering substances not explicitly listed.

Preparation Guidelines

Minimum Abstinence Period: Stop using all recreational drugs at least two weeks prior to your ayahuasca ceremony.
Honesty: Fully disclose any substance use to the facilitator or healthcare professional involved in your preparation.
Support for Withdrawal: If dependency is a concern, consult a healthcare provider for guidance.

NOTE: Some herbal supplements, such as St. John’s Wort, should also be discontinued. Contact us for more information about specific supplements.

By following these precautions, you can minimize risks and create a safer and more effective experience with ayahuasca. We are here to help ensure that your experience is safe and beneficial. If you have any concerns, please reach out to discuss your specific situation before booking your retreat.