Risk assessment of ayahuasca use in a religious context: self-reported risk factors and adverse effects

Durante, Ícaro; Santos, Rafael G. dos; Bouso, José Carlos; Hallak, Jaime Eduardo Cecílio

doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0913

Cited by 31 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…No medical interventions or drug use was required, suggesting that even severe psychological effects can be handled with nondrug interventions. 11 In the specific case of ayahuasca, common adverse effects observed both in the experimental [4][5][6][7][8] and ritual [12][13][14] contexts include nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and transient increases in blood pressure and heart rate. A descriptive systematic review reported 3 case series and 2 case reports describing psychotic episodes associated with ayahuasca ingestion and 3 case reports describing psychotic episodes associated with smoking DMT.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Effects After Ayahuasca Administration in the Clinical Setting

Rocha

Rossi

Osório

et al. 2022

J Clin Psychopharmacol

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and consult an ophthalmologist immediately. Also, according to the literature, drug-associated acute ACG is believed to be idiosyncratic in nature. That is to say that the ocular adverse effects, unlike the systemic ones, are not dose related, 6 as illustrated in this case report-our patient received only 100 mg of topiramate per day, whereas the recommended clinical dose for approved indications is 200 to 400 mg daily. Supporting its idiosyncratic nature, 3 different reasons can be pointed out: (1) a very small proportion of the patients who are under topiramate treatment develop drug-associated bilateral ACG; (2) low or even subtherapeutic levels of the drug can be associated with the condition;(3) there are cases of topiramate overdose that did not result in bilateral ACG development. 7 Delaying the presentation or continuing the drug can lead to permanent blindness or compromise the quality of vision for life.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Effects After Ayahuasca Administration in the Clinical Setting

Rocha

Rossi

Osório

et al. 2022

J Clin Psychopharmacol

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“…However, 200 out of the 641 participants taking part in Durante et al’s (2020) study experienced tachycardia, and frequency of occurrence was higher in patients with a psychiatric diagnosis than those without. However, it is unclear if this was due to direct effects of ayahuasca or a result of participants’ underlying psychiatric disorder and/or medication.…”

Section: Physiological Risksmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…One subject experienced transient hypertension 132/90, 135/90, 142/105, 142/95 and 116/78 mm Hg at 0, 1, 4, 8 and 24 h, respectively after 200 μg/kg of psilocybin. Durante et al (2020) 614 participants aged between 18 and 55 years (321 males/293 females). 50 self-reported a psychiatric disorder (commonly depression and anxiety).…”

Section: Cardiovascular Pathology In Human Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse effects of psychedelics: From anecdotes and misinformation to systematic science

Schlag

Aday

Salam³

et al. 2022

J Psychopharmacol

186

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Background: Despite an increasing body of research highlighting their efficacy to treat a broad range of medical conditions, psychedelic drugs remain a controversial issue among the public and politicians, tainted by previous stigmatisation and perceptions of risk and danger. Objective: This narrative review examines the evidence for potential harms of the classic psychedelics by separating anecdotes and misinformation from systematic research. Methods: Taking a high-level perspective, we address both psychological and psychiatric risks, such as abuse liability and potential for dependence, as well as medical harms, including toxicity and overdose. We explore the evidence base for these adverse effects to elucidate which of these harms are based largely on anecdotes versus those that stand up to current scientific scrutiny. Results: Our review shows that medical risks are often minimal, and that many – albeit not all – of the persistent negative perceptions of psychological risks are unsupported by the currently available scientific evidence, with the majority of reported adverse effects not being observed in a regulated and/or medical context. Conclusions: This highlights the importance for clinicians and therapists to keep to the highest safety and ethical standards. It is imperative not to be overzealous and to ensure balanced media reporting to avoid future controversies, so that much needed research can continue.

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“…It also triggered the urge to defecate, especially at the onset of effects. Vomiting and diarrhea may be considered to be the result of increased serotonin levels in the gastrointestinal tract [11]. Callaway [50] described that vomiting was induced by increased vagus nerve stimulation at serotonin receptors in the central region.…”

Section: Common Side Effects Of Ayahuascamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The decoction is traditionally prepared by cooking the bark or crushed stems of the liana Banisteriopsis caapi (contains β-carbolines) alone or in combination with other plants, most commonly leaves of the shrub Psychotria viridis (contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine) [9,10]. The tea itself has a bitter taste and is not pleasant to drink [11]. Thus, the main compounds of the preparation are β-carboline alkaloids (harmala alkaloids-harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine) and N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ayahuasca as a Decoction Applied to Human: Analytical Methods, Pharmacology and Potential Toxic Effects

Nižnanský

Nižnanská

Kuruc

et al. 2022

JCM

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Ahyahuasca is a term commonly used to describe a decoction prepared by cooking the bark or crushed stems of the liana Banisteriopsis caapi (contains β-carbolines) alone or in combination with other plants, most commonly leaves of the shrub Psychotria viridis (contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine-DMT). More than 100 different plants can serve as sources of β-carbolines and DMT, which are the active alkaloids of this decoction, and therefore it is important to know the most accurate composition of the decoction, especially when studying the pharmacology of this plant. The aim was to summarize the latest sensitive methods used in the analysis of the composition of the beverage itself and the analysis of various biological matrices. We compared pharmacokinetic parameters in all of the studies where decoction of ayahuasca was administered and where its composition was known, whereby minimal adverse effects were observed. The therapeutic benefit of this plant is still unclear in the scientific literature, and side effects occur probably on the basis of pre-existing psychiatric disorder. We also described toxicological risks and clinical benefits of ayahuasca intake, which meant that the concentrations of active alkaloids in the decoction or in the organism, often not determined in publications, were required for sufficient evaluation of its effect on the organism. We did not find any post-mortem study, in which the toxicological examination of biological materials together with the autopsy findings would suggest potential lethality of this plant.

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Risk assessment of ayahuasca use in a religious context: self-reported risk factors and adverse effects

Cited by 31 publications

References 33 publications

Adverse Effects After Ayahuasca Administration in the Clinical Setting

Adverse Effects After Ayahuasca Administration in the Clinical Setting

Adverse effects of psychedelics: From anecdotes and misinformation to systematic science

Ayahuasca as a Decoction Applied to Human: Analytical Methods, Pharmacology and Potential Toxic Effects

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