Safety Guidelines: Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca Preparation and Safety Guidelines.
For your utmost safety, we require that you agree to disclose, in confidence, any known medical conditions and/or use of any medication, at the time of application.
By applying to Wonderland Project, you understand that Wonderland Project provides access to established retreat centers that offer ayahuasca and other plant medicines. We offer scholarships for the room & board for survivors who are ready and choose this type of healing.. Chosen activities at the retreat center is a separate agreement with you and the retreat center. By applying through Wonderland Project, you are declaring in good faith that you are physically and mentally able to participate in the activities described in the workshop programs, and agree that you are participating at your own risk and that we do not accept liability for any accident or injury. By applying, you agree to seek professional medical advice on preparations for your health and wellbeing and the overall welfare of other participants.
In general, we recommend stopping most medications, if possible, four weeks in advance of your retreat. Please consult a medical professional as no medication should be stopped abruptly. Certain medications have contraindications with ayahuasca. It is essential to stop taking the following substances, and give your system sufficient time to remove them from the body, before you begin a workshop. Please consult your doctor if you are in any doubt: you certainly should not suddenly stop taking prescribed medications (including antidepressants) without consulting your doctor. Please also share your status with WP.
The following medications can be dangerous with ayahuasca and should be discontinued at least four weeks prior to partaking in ceremony with the consultations of a medical professional. Never abruptly stop your medications:
Other MAOIs - known to have dangerous side effects when used with ayahuasca
SSRI’s (any selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) - such as antidepressants such as Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor etc. Combining these can lead to serotonin syndrome.
Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine)
Appetite suppressants (diet pills)
Medicine for bronchitis; antihistamines, medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies (Actifed DM, Benadryl, Benylin, Chlor-Trimeton, Compoz, Bromarest-DM or -DX, Dimetane-DX cough syrup, Dristan Cold & Flu, Phenergan with extromethorphan, Robitussin-DM, Vicks Formula 44-D, several Tylenol cold, cough).
Sedatives, tranquilizers, some hypertensive medications, sympathomimetic amines (including pseudoephedrine and ephedrine), carbamazipine, methylphemidate (Ritalin), macromerine, phenelanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, asarone/calamus, some asthma inhalers, and diet pills.
Any drug containing dextromethorphan/ DXM or with DM, DX or Tuss in its name.
CNS (central nervous system) depressants (Xanax, Ativan, etc)
Vasodilators
Antipsychotics
Barbiturates
Cocaine
Amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine) including Adderall, ephedrine, MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, MDEA, PMA
Opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine, and especially opium)
Dextromethorphan (DXM)
Mescaline (any phenethylamine) – less dangerous but not recommended
Kratom – less dangerous but not recommended
Kava – less dangerous but not recommended
Herbal supplements – St. John ́s Wort & 5-HTP - stop at least 2 weeks prior to working with ayahuasca
We also recommend discontinuing the use of cannabis for at least two weeks (one month if you regularly work with this plant) prior to your retreat. Cannabis use can make it difficult for many people to connect strongly with ayahuasca.
However, we recognize that this may not be possible for all medications. Please discuss with your doctor any and all medications you are taking and their interactions with MAO inhibitors, particularly if you are taking any medications that would pose a health risk to discontinue.
It’s not always necessary to discontinue medications, but it’s very important to discuss this with your primary doctor as well as the WP team when filling out your Initial Application and Intake Form, and as well as during your Intake and Medical Screening Calls. Some medications are contraindicated with Ayahuasca and unlike food interactions, whose consequences are usually unlikely to be serious, interaction with some pharmaceutical drugs and medications (including some over-the-counter drugs and certain herbs) have the potential to pose serious health risks.
Plant Medicine ceremonies can be very healing for PTSD. We honor the veterans before us who have paved the way in research and accessibility so that women survivors can also experience these profound healing benefits of plant spirits.
It is important to discuss with your medical provider any changes in your medications and health issues. Please let our team know of any medications you are taking to ensure your utmost safety and wellbeing.
Here is a list (incomplete) of some specific pharmaceutical drugs that should not be combined with MAOIs with mild to serious risks.
Actifed
Adderall
Alaproclate
Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)
Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)
Amineptine
Amitriptaline
Amoxapine (Asendin)
Atomoxedine
Befloxetone
Benadryl
Benylin
Benzedrine
Benzphetamine (Didrex)
Bicifadine
Brasofensine
Brofaromine
Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
Buspirone (BuSpar)
Butriptyline
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol
Chlorpheniramine
Chlor Trimeton
Cimoxetone
Citalopram
Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Codeine
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
Cyclizine (Marezine)
Dapoxotine
Desipramine (Pertofrane, Norpramin)
Desvenlafaxine
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
Dextromethorphan (DXM)
Dibenzepin
Dienolide kavapyrone desmethoxyyangonin
Diethylpropion
Disopyramide (Norpace)
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Dopamine (Intropin)
Dosulepin
Doxepin (Sinequan)
Duloxetine
Emsam
Ephedrine
Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
Escitalopram
Femoxitine
Fenfluramine (Pondimin)
Flavoxate Hydrochloride (Urispas)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Fluvoxamine
Furazolidone (Furoxone)
Guanethedine
Guanadrel (Hylorel)
Guanethidine (Ismelin)
Hydralazine (Apresoline)
5 Hydroxytryptophan
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Iprindole
Iproniazid (Marsilid, Iprozid, Ipronid, Rivivol, Propilniazida)
Iproclozide
Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
Isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)
Isoniazid rifampin (Rifamate, Rimactane)
Isoproterenol (Isuprel)
L dopa (Sinemet)
Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa
Linezolid (Zyvox, Zyvoxid)
Lithium (Eskalith)
Lofepramine
Loratadine (Claritin)
Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
Medifoxamine
Melitracen
Meperidine (Demerol)
Metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel)
Metaraminol (Aramine)
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
Methyldopa (Aidomet)
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Mianserin
Milnacipran
Minaprine
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
Moclobemide
Montelukast (Singulair)
Nefazodone
Nialamide
Nisoxetine
Nomifensine
Norepinephrine (Levophed)
Nortriptyline (Aventyl)
Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)
Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
Orphenadrine (Norflex)
Pargyline (Eutonyl)
Parnate
Paroxetine (Paxil)
Pemoline (Cylert)
Percocet
Pethedine (Demerol)
Phendimetrazine (Plegiline)
Phenergen
Phenmetrazine
Phentermine
Phenylephrine (Dimetane, Dristan decongestant, Neo Synephrine)
Phenylpropanolamine (in many cold medicines)
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Procarbazine (Matulane)
Procainamide (Pronestyl)
Protriptyline (Vivactil)
Pseudoephedrine
Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
Quinidine (Quinidex)
Rasagiline (Azilect)
Reboxetine
Reserpine (Serpasil)
Risperidone
Salbutemol
Salmeterol
Selegiline (Eldepryl)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Sibutramine
Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
Terfenadine (Seldane D)
Tegretol
Temaril
Tesofensine
Theophylline (Theo Dur)
Tianeptine
Toloxatone
Tramidol
Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
Trazodone
Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)
Trimipramine (Surmontil)
Triptans
Vanoxerine
Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Viloxezine
Yohimbine
Zimelidine
Ziprasidone (Geodon)
Also avoid the following herbs:
St. Johns Wort
Kava
Kratom
Ephedra
Ginseng
Yohimbe
Sinicuichi
Rhodiola Rosea
Kanna
Boswellia
Nutmeg
Scotch Broom
Licorice Root
