Recurrent cerebral intraparenchymal hemorrhage after ayahuasca consumption: a case report
São Paulo Medical Journal January 1, 2023 Caroline Darold Vieira, Mateus Gustavo Favaro, Renan Barros Lopes et al.
A 57-year-old woman developed difficulty coordinating her right hand after consuming ayahuasca in a religious ceremony. The symptoms persisted after the psychedelic effects wore off. Examination revealed right hemiataxia and severely elevated blood pressure (200/100 mmHg). A head CT scan showed a left basal ganglia hemorrhage, with no abnormalities on CT angiography. The patient had experienced a similar hemorrhagic stroke years earlier, also shortly after ayahuasca use, but continued monthly use. Ayahuasca contains DMT, a potent serotonin receptor agonist that can acutely raise blood pressure and trigger hemorrhagic stroke. This is the first reported case of hemorrhagic stroke following ayahuasca use, highlighting that despite its spiritual and therapeutic associations, the drug carries serious risks.