Warning & Cautions

Many prescription anti-depressant drugs are also MAO inhibitors.  These should not be taken in combination with the food or drugs listed below.

Items which should not be taken in combination with MAO inhibitors:

   Sedatives and tranquilizers

    Antihistamines

    Narcotics

    Amphetamines

    Asarone / Calamus

    Herbal Ecstasy or any Ecstasy Product

   RITUAL SPIRIT

    ANY EPHEDRA OR YOHIMBIE CONTAINING PRODUCT

Check all food or medicines for these items:

    Phenylalanine

    Alcohol

    Ephedrine

    Macromarine

    Also, some anesthetics may contain these elements which should be avoided

Prescription or over the counter medicines and Supplements should be avoided, unless one is certain that these can be taken with MAO Inhibitors, they should discontinue use long enough for product to pass out of their system before taking the MAO inhibitor

Ecstasy, Mescaline, 2C-B and other Phenethylamines are to be avoided

If you are mixing Ayahuasca with one of the recommended add mixture, or with mushrooms, heed this warning:             NEVER TAKE AYAHUASCA OR ANY OTHER PLANTS ALONE, ALWAYS BE CERTAIN THAT     THERE IS A SOBER SITTER PRESENT!

Always consult a physician if you are unsure about any of these precautions. Do not take Ayahuasca if you are pregnant, nursing or under any medication. Do mot take if you have high blood pressure or diabetes or any other pre-existing medical conditions without first consulting a medical practitioner. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN!

What is a MAO Inhibitor?

MAOI's --Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors.

These are anti-depressants which are useful in the treatment of atypical depression, vegetative symptoms, anxiety, initial insomnia, panic disorder, etc. and (recently discovered) borderline personality disorder.

MOA's metabolize serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. By inhibiting this metabolism, MAOI's increase the levels of neurotransmitters.

Tyramine is an amino acid which is normally metabolized in the gut.  After taking an MAOI, this MAO is Inhibited and any dietary Tyramine will not be metabolized, hence will increase the level of tyramine in the blood. This is bad due to tyramines effect on norepinephrines which lead to a hyper sensitive crisis.  Blood pressure goes up to 180+, heartbeat goes to over 100 beats per minute, and people who suffer one of these typically report getting the most painful headaches of their lives. Sometimes a Ca-blocker like nifedipine prescribed for the user of the MAOI to combat this effect should it occur. HOWEVER, THIS CAN BE AVOIDED BY SIMPLY AVOIDING TYRAMINE!

Tyramine is in cheese, wine or anything aged and fermented.  Also,syntathomometic drugs (MDMA, amphetamines, OTC cold meds like Ephedrine, Dextromethorphan, etc.) can cause a hyper sensitive crisis when taken in conjunction with an MAOI.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO AVOID TYRAMINE FOR 48 HOURS PRIOR TO INGESTION AND 24-48 HOURS AFTER INGESTION OF AYAHUASCA.

F OODS HIGH IN TYRAMINE (to be avoided when taking Ayahuasca)

    All aged mature cheese (exception: cottage cheese, cream cheese)

    Dry and fermented sausage ( bologna, salami, pepperoni, corned beef, and liver)

    Pickled Herring and other salted, dried fish

    Broad beans and pods ( lima, fava beans, lentils, snow peas and soy beans)

    Meat extracts

    Yeast extracts/ Brewers Yeast

    Beer and Ale

    Red Wine ( Chianti, Sherry, burgundy, Vermouth)

    Sauerkraut Banana peel Fruits (Bananas, avocados, canned figs, raisins, red plums, raspberries)

    Cultured dairy products (buttermilk, yogurt and sour cream)

    Chocolate

    Caffeine (coffee, tea, and cola drinks)

    White wine

    Port wine Distilled Spirits

    Soy Sauce

    Peanuts

    Cocoa

    Pineapple

    Cream

    Avocados (especially overripe)

    Bananas (especially overripe)

    White wine

    Nutmeg

    Oil of Dill

    Oil of Parsley

    Coffee

    Figs and Raisins

    Yogurt