Ayahuasca at a glance: schedule, half-life, and class
- Ingredients
- Banisteriopsis caapi vine (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine) and DMT-containing leaves, usually Psychotria viridis
- Drug class
- Psychedelic (DMT) with reversible MAO-A inhibitors
- US legal status
- DMT is Schedule I; religious exemptions for the UDV and Santo Daime churches
- Typical setting
- Ceremonies led by a curandero or church, often at retreats
- Onset
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Duration
- 4 to 6 hours
- Common effects
- Vomiting and diarrhea ('purging'), intense visions
What is ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca has been used for centuries by Indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin in healing and spiritual ceremonies. Today it is also used in syncretic churches and at retreats worldwide.[1]
DMT is normally broken down in the gut by monoamine oxidase. The vine's harmala alkaloids block that enzyme, allowing DMT to reach the brain, which is why the brew works by mouth.[1]
Ayahuasca effects and how long they last
Effects include intense visions, emotional and spiritual experiences, altered sense of time and self, and a fast heartbeat and higher blood pressure. Vomiting and diarrhea are common and are considered part of the ceremony.[1]
Research is exploring ayahuasca for depression and addiction, but it is not approved for any medical use.
Ayahuasca side effects and risks
Dangerous interactions: because of its MAO inhibitors, ayahuasca with SSRIs, SNRIs, MDMA, tramadol, stimulants, or tyramine-rich foods can cause serotonin syndrome or a hypertensive crisis.[1]
Heart: raised heart rate and blood pressure can be dangerous with heart disease.
Mental health: distressing experiences, and, in people with personal or family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, triggering of those conditions.
Retreat safety: deaths at retreats have involved other substances given alongside (such as tobacco, kambo, or 5-MeO-DMT), drowning, and lack of medical screening.
Warning: Never take ayahuasca while using SSRIs, SNRIs, MAO inhibitors, lithium, stimulants, or MDMA. Antidepressants usually need to be stopped for weeks, only under a prescriber's supervision.
Ayahuasca interactions: what is dangerous to mix with it
Choose what it would be combined with:
| Combined with | What happens | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSRIs, SNRIs, tramadol, MDMA, St. John's wort | Serotonin syndrome | Dangerous |
| Stimulants and decongestants | Hypertensive crisis | Dangerous |
| Tyramine-rich foods (aged cheese, cured meats) | Raised blood pressure | Avoid |
| Lithium | Seizures | Dangerous |
| Other psychedelics | Unpredictable, intense effects | High risk |
This is not a full list. Combining substances raises the risk of harm, especially when the contents of street drugs are unknown.
Ayahuasca overdose: signs and what to do
Serious toxicity mainly results from interactions: serotonin syndrome (agitation, fever, muscle twitching, rapid heartbeat) or a hypertensive crisis (severe headache, chest pain). Both need emergency care.[1]
If someone is having a dangerous reaction
- Call 911 for a seizure, chest pain, a very high temperature, trouble breathing, unresponsiveness, or if the person may harm themselves or others.
- Move them to a quiet, safe place away from roads, water, heights, and crowds. Stay with them and speak calmly.
- Do not leave the person alone and do not give them other drugs or alcohol to calm them down.
- If they become unresponsive, place them on their side and give naloxone in case opioids are involved.
Is Ayahuasca addictive?
Ayahuasca is not considered physically addictive and does not cause a withdrawal syndrome. Tolerance builds quickly with repeated use.[1]
- Hours to daysAfterglow or come-downTiredness, emotional sensitivity, or low mood can follow.
- Days to weeksIntegrationSome people have lingering anxiety or distressing memories that benefit from support.
- Rarely, monthsPersisting effectsA small number of people have lasting perception changes (HPPD) or mental health problems.
Is ayahuasca legal in the US? Schedule and legal status
Ayahuasca contains DMT, a Schedule I controlled substance, so importing, possessing, or distributing it is illegal under federal law.[2]
- Religious exemption: in Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal (2006), the Supreme Court allowed the UDV church to use hoasca under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Santo Daime churches won a similar ruling in Oregon in 2009.[3]
- Possession: outside these exemptions, a first federal conviction for possessing a controlled substance can bring up to one year in prison.[4]
Where can someone get help with ayahuasca use?
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, in English and Spanish. It gives referrals to local treatment and support.[5]
- FindTreatment.gov: a federal locator for state-licensed treatment programs, searchable by location, payment, and type of care.[6]
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 for a mental health or substance use crisis.
- Your own clinician: a primary care doctor can screen, treat, and refer, and can discuss medicines that support recovery where they exist.
Ayahuasca legal status in other countries
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| Peru | Traditional use protected as national cultural heritage (2008) |
| Brazil | Legal for religious use |
| United Kingdom | Illegal; DMT is Class A |
| International | DMT is in Schedule I of the 1971 Convention; the plants themselves are not listed |
Laws change and differ in detail. Check current rules before carrying any controlled medicine across a border.[7]
Common questions about ayahuasca
Is ayahuasca legal in the US?
Generally no, because it contains DMT, but two churches have court-recognized religious exemptions.
Can you take ayahuasca on antidepressants?
No. The combination can cause serotonin syndrome. Any change to antidepressants must be planned with a prescriber.
Why does ayahuasca make you vomit?
The harmala alkaloids and the brew itself commonly cause vomiting and diarrhea, called purging in ceremonies.
Is ayahuasca the same as DMT?
It contains DMT, but its MAO inhibitors make it last hours instead of minutes and add interaction risks.
Are ayahuasca retreats safe?
Risks vary widely. Look for medical screening, trained staff, and clear emergency plans, and avoid retreats that add other substances.
Sources
- Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- Controlled Substance Schedules. DEA Diversion Control Division.
- Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal, 546 U.S. 418 (2006). Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
- 21 U.S.C. 844, Penalties for simple possession. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
- National Helpline. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- FindTreatment.gov. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- International drug control conventions. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
