Ayahuasca: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know.
Journal of addictions nursing Deana Goldin, Deborah Salani 2 citations
Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian hallucinogenic brew that has been used for centuries in shamanic ceremonies and is gaining popularity in the United States for its spiritual and psychotherapeutic benefits. The decoction combines a monoamine oxidase inhibitor from Banisteriopsis caapi with a serotonergic 2A receptor agonist from Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana. Potential risks include psychotic episodes related to N,N-dimethyltryptamine and potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome. Consequences of use remain uncertain due to poor quality control, unpredictability, and polydrug interactions. Healthcare providers need familiarity with its pharmacology, drug interactions, and management for optimal decision making.