Ayahuasca Exposure: Descriptive Analysis of Calls to US Poison Control Centers from 2005 to 2015
Journal of Medical Toxicology November 28, 2016 Craig Heise, Daniel E. Brooks 47 citations
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic plant preparation from the Amazon Basin, is increasingly used for religious, therapeutic, and recreational purposes. An analysis of 538 human exposure calls to U.S. poison control centers from 2005 to 2015 found that most users were men (81%), with a median age of 21. The most common adverse effects included hallucinations (35%), tachycardia (34%), agitation (34%), hypertension (16%), mydriasis (13%), and vomiting (6%). Serious outcomes occurred: 5% required intubation, 12 had seizures, 7 a respiratory arrest, 4 a cardiac arrest, and 3 fatalities were reported. Calls increased over the decade. While ayahuasca use is often safe, serious and life-threatening adverse effects are possible.