Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a brew combining DMT-containing plants with MAOI-containing plants. The MAOI component is what makes oral DMT active — and what makes medication interactions potentially life-threatening. Medical screening before any ceremony is essential.

medications to avoid — critical

• SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa): serotonin syndrome risk — potentially fatal. Stop at least 2 weeks before under medical supervision
• SNRIs (Effexor, Cymbalta): same risk as SSRIs — minimum 2 week washout
• MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide): additive MAOI effect — dangerous
• Tramadol: severe serotonin syndrome risk
• Lithium: seizure risk
• Stimulants (amphetamines, MDMA, cocaine): hypertensive crisis risk
• Dextromethorphan (DXM, in many cough syrups): serotonin syndrome
• Meperidine (pethidine): potentially fatal interaction
• Many antiretrovirals and antibiotics: check interactions individually
• Never stop psychiatric medication abruptly to attend a ceremony — taper under medical guidance only

food restrictions (the dieta)

• Avoid tyramine-rich foods for 24–48h before ceremony: aged cheeses, cured meats, fermented foods, overripe fruit
• Tyramine + MAOIs causes hypertensive crisis — rapid dangerous spike in blood pressure
• Avoid alcohol for at least 24h before
• Eat lightly on ceremony day — a light meal 4-6 hours before is ideal
• Traditional dietas extend for weeks and include additional restrictions — follow your facilitator's guidance

ceremony safety

• Vet your facilitator carefully — experience, credentials, and medical screening protocols matter
• Legitimate ceremonies conduct health screening before allowing participation
• Know the emergency plan — where is the nearest hospital, does the facilitator have medical training
• Have a trusted person who knows what you're doing and where you are
• Purging (vomiting) is common and considered part of the experience — have a bucket ready
• Don't attend alone or with unknown people — the vulnerability of the experience requires trust

effects & what to expect

• Intense visual and auditory hallucinations — often described as meeting entities or accessing deeper consciousness
• Emotional purging — difficult material from the past often surfaces
• Nausea and purging are common, especially in the first hour
• Duration is 4-6 hours with residual effects for several more
• The experience is often described as one of the most significant of a person's life — positive or difficult
• Having an experienced sitter or facilitator present is strongly recommended

integration

• Allow several days of rest after ceremony — do not return immediately to intense work or obligations
• Journal immediately while the experience is fresh
• Sit with insights for weeks before acting on major decisions
• Integration therapy specifically for ayahuasca experiences exists — MAPS and ICEERS maintain directories
• ICEERS (iceers.org) provides integration support and harm reduction resources specifically for ayahuasca

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