Preparing for the Journey
Foods To Avoid
We believe that cleansing the body of toxins is an essential part of your overall health and well being. It gives your body a chance to prepare for deeper healing work. As early as you are able to prepare for your retreat beginning a vegetarian whole food lifestyle is the most efficient way to detox from previous lifestyle choices. It will help you gain the most out of your retreat as well. It is also good to stop any alcohol intake prior to arrival.
Ayahuasca (specifically, Caapi vine, one of two principal ingredients in the ayahuasca brew) is an MAO-inhibitor, meaning it temporarily inhibits the activation of the monoamine oxidase (MAO), tyramine. This enzyme is essential to process the amino acid tyramine, so it’s important to refrain from eating foods high in this amino acid, otherwise your body could reach toxic levels that cause headaches or hypertension.
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Foods that contain tyramine include :
Pork
Red meat
Aged cheeses
Fermented foods like soy sauce, fermented tofu, and sauerkraut
Yogurt
Alcohol
Nutritional supplements like protein powders
Aspartame
Chocolate (in large amounts)
Peanuts (in large amounts)
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In addition to foods high in tyramine, you should avoid :
Salt (i.e. canned and processed foods)
Refined sugar (i.e. sweets and junk food)
Spicy food
Dairy
Oils
Caffeine
Drugs to Avoid
It can be very dangerous to combine some pharmaceutical drugs with Ayahuasca. Unlike food interactions, whose consequences are usually unlikely to be serious, interaction with pharmaceutical drugs and meds (including some over-the-counter drugs and certain herbs) can be potentially life-threatening. The combination of MAOIs and other serotonin agonists or precursors poses a particularly severe risk of a life-threatening serotonin syndrome episode.
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Other MAOIs
SSRI’s (any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)
antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine)
appetite suppressants (diet pills)
CNS (central nervous system) depressants (xanax, ativan, etc)
vasodilators
antipsychotics
barbiturates
alcohol
medicine for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems; antihistamines, medicines for colds, 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 — any drug containing dextromethorphan/ DXM or with DM, DX or Tuss in its name.)
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- cocaine
- amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine), ephedrine, MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, MDEA, PMA
- opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine, and especially opium)
- dextromethorphan (DXM)
- nutmeg
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- mescaline (any phenethylamine)
- barbiturates
- alcohol
- kratom
- kava
- 5-MEO-DMT
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(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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Tramidol
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- Trazodone
- Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)
- Trimipramine (Surmontil)
- Triptans
- Tyrima
- Vanoxerine
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)
- Viloxezine
- Yohimbine
- Zimelidine
- Ziprasidone (Geodon)
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St. Johns Wort (should be avoided for at least two weeks)
Avoid the following herbs for at least 48 hours before and after:
Betel
Boswellia
Carrot seed
Chamomile
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
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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.
Using 5-MEO-DMT with Ayahuasca or Ayahuasca analogs can be fatal. There is a 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.
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.
Using diuretics with MAOIs may cause a greater drop in blood pressure than normal and increase in MAOI blood levels.
Using anesthetics with MAOIs may potentiate or increase the anesthetic effect.
Using sleeping pills or tranquilizers (major or minor) with MAOIs may increase the sedative effect.
Using nutmeg (at psychoactive levels) with MAOIs can cause hypotensive crisis (extremely low blood pressure), rapid heartbeat, unconsciousness and potentially death.
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.
Using Tricyclic antidepressants within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects including sudden fever, extremely high blood pressure, convulsions, and death.
Using Fluoxetine (Prozac) within five weeks of taking MAOIs may cause high fever, rigidity, high blood pressure, mental changes, confusion and hypomania.
Using Amitryptamine or Amoxipine with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
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.
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)
Using Bupropion (Wellbutrin) within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects such as seizures.
Using Buspirone (Buspar) with MAOIs may cause high blood pressure and increased sedative effects.
Using Carbamazepine (Tegretol) with MAOIs may result in fever (hyperpyrexic crisis) and may cause seizures, or increase seizures in epileptics.
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.
Using Clomipramine with MAOIs may cause high fever (hyperpyrexic crisis), seizures, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and death.
Using CNS depressants with MAOIs may increase the depressant effects.
Using Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis, hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
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.
Using Dobutamine with MAOIs may precipitate severe hypertensive reaction.
Using Doxepin with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
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.
Using Fenfluramine with MAOIs may result in fever (hyperpyrexic crisis).
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. It
Using Horny Goat Weed with MAOIs may result in hypotensive crisis (severe blood pressure drop).
Using Imipramine with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
Using Isoproterenol with MAOIs may precipitate severe hypertensive crisis.
Using Kava with MAOIs may result in hypotensive crisis (severe blood pressure drop).
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.
Using Linezolid with MAOIs can cause serotonin syndrome.
Using Lithium with MAOIs may cause fever (hyperpyrexic crisis) and serotonin syndrome (see serotonin syndrome above).
Using Meperidine (Demerol) with pharmaceutical MAOIs has resulted in deaths from a single dose. Immediate onset of sweating, rigidity and hypertension can occur.
Using Metaproterenol or other beta-adrenergic bronchodilators with MAOIs may cause blood pressure elevation and rapid heartbeat.
Using Mirtazapine (Remeron) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis.
Using Nefazodone (Serzone) may result in high fever (hyperpyrexic crisis).
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.
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.
Using Temaril with MAOIs may increase chance of side effects.
Using Terfenadine with MAOIs may cause an increase in MAOI blood levels.
Using Theophylline with MAOIs may cause rapid heartbeat and anxiety.
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.
Using Trazodone (Desyrel) with MAOIs may result in high fever (hyperpyrexic crisis).
Using Tryptophan or L-tryptophan with MAOIs may cause disorientation, confusion, amnesia, delirium agitation, memory impairment, hypomanic signs, shivering.
Using Venlafaxine (Effexor) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis or serotonin syndrome.
Using Ziprasidone (Geodon) with MAOIs may cause serotonin syndrome.
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.
Contraindicated Drugs
How long do you have to stay off contraindicated drugs before and after an Ayahuasca ceremony?
Depends on the drug. May be 24 hours, may be six months. For over the counter drugs (like antihistamines), 48 hours before and after is more than enough. For prescription drugs, two to six weeks is typical, but do not guess. Find out for sure from your doctor. Your doctor may be unfamiliar with Ayahuasca specifically, but tell him or her that you are planning to take a reversible MAOI. . Some people who plan to drink Ayahuasca in a country where it is not legal are concerned that the doctor will ask questions about the source of the MAOI and learn about an illegal activity. Doctors are bound by doctor-patient confidentiality and they would prefer to know about anything their patients are taking, legal or not. But if your doctor feels that he or she needs more information about Ayahuasca, you could refer him or her to this thread and other informational resources in this forum.
Medical consultation is especially important if you are taking Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Zoloft or other antidepressants that affect serotonin levels, i.e. serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI), because these substances must be reduced gradually. Fluoxetine (Prozac) requires 8 weeks (56 days) and most other SSRIs five weeks (35 days) to clear the system.
Special note to diabetics: MAOIs may change the amount of insulin or oral antidiabetic medication that you need.
Source: ayahuascasafety.org