Prohibited substances

A decoction of the “spirit liana” (Banisteriopsis caapi) and chacruna (Psychotria viridis) is absolutely safe for a healthy body. But in combination with narcotic and psychoactive substances, as well as some medications, ayahuasca can cause serious harm to health, even death. Therefore, carefully read these instructions!

7, and preferably 14 days before the ceremony, you must also stop taking:

• SSRIs – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (eg, Paxil, Fevarin, Zoloft);
• MAOIs – monoamine oxidase inhibitors (for example, Azilect, Yumex, Rasagiline);
• psychoactive substances, primarily MDMA (ecstasy), ephedrine, amphetamine;
• alcohol;
• products containing tyramine (for example, spicy and aged cheeses, kefir, long-life sausages, oysters, sauerkraut, mushrooms, red wine).

A full list of foods containing tyramine can be found  here.

•  drugs that have an anorectic effect, that is, suppress appetite (for example, dexfenfluramine, chlorphenterphine hydrochloride, mazindol);
•  barbiturates and any other drugs that depress the central nervous system (for example, pentobarbital, talbutal, aprobarbital);
•  corticosteroids and other medications prescribed for asthma and bronchitis (eg, dexamethasone, medrol, betaspan);
•  beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and other drugs to lower blood pressure (eg, nebilet, concor, lisinopril);
• antihistamines, i.e. antiallergic drugs (for example, mebhydrolin, suprastin, diphenhydramine);
•  cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM);
• tranquilizers, both anxiolytics (for example, lorazepam, hydroxyzine, aminophenylbutyric acid) and neuroleptics (for example, betamax, xanax, haloperidol);
• vasodilators, i.e. vasodilators (for example, bosentan, nicotinic acid, magnesium sulfate).