Ayahuasca Sleeping pills Red Discussion: Ayahuasca & Sleeping pills

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Ayahuasca & Sleeping pills​

Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian brew with psychoactive properties, primarily used in shamanic rituals. It is made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the leaves of the Psychotria viridis plant, which together create a powerful hallucinogenic experience.

Components of Ayahuasca

1. Banisteriopsis caapi: This vine contains harmala alkaloids, primarily harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine, which are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
2. Psychotria viridis: The leaves of this plant contain N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent psychedelic compound.

The harmala alkaloids in Banisteriopsis caapi inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase enzymes (MAOs) in the digestive system. Normally, MAOs would break down DMT, rendering it inactive when taken orally. By inhibiting these enzymes, the harmala alkaloids allow DMT to enter the bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier.

Once in the brain, DMT interacts primarily with the serotonin receptors, especially the 5-HT2A receptor. This interaction induces intense visual and auditory hallucinations, altered perception of time and space, and profound changes in consciousness. The exact mechanism involves:

• Serotonin Receptor Agonism: DMT acts as a partial agonist at serotonin receptors, particularly 5-HT2A, which is heavily implicated in the effects of classic psychedelics.
• Neuroplasticity: DMT may promote neural plasticity, enhancing the growth and branching of neurons, which could contribute to the lasting psychological effects often reported after Ayahuasca ceremonies.
• Default Mode Network (DMN) Modulation: DMT and other psychedelics are known to decrease activity in the DMN, a network associated with self-referential thoughts and the ego. This reduction in DMN activity is thought to lead to a sense of unity and ego dissolution.

Sleeping pills, also known as sedative-hypnotics, are medications used to help individuals fall asleep or stay asleep. They work through various mechanisms depending on their class and active ingredients.

• Benzodiazepines enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABA-A receptor. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it reduces the activity of neurons, leading to sedation and relaxation.
  Examples:
  • Diazepam (Valium): Commonly used for anxiety, muscle relaxation, and sedation.
  • Temazepam (Restoril): Specifically used for short-term treatment of insomnia.
  • Lorazepam (Ativan): Used for anxiety and sleep disorders.
• Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotics (Z-drugs) also act on the GABA-A receptor, but they are more selective for the alpha-1 subunit, which is primarily involved in sedation.
  Examples:
  • Zolpidem (Ambien): Helps with initiating sleep and is available in extended-release forms for maintaining sleep.
  • Eszopiclone (Lunesta): Used for both sleep onset and maintenance.
  • Zaleplon (Sonata): Useful for sleep onset due to its short half-life.
• Melatonin Receptor Agonists mimic the action of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. They bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) in the brain, promoting sleep.
  • Ramelteon (Rozerem): Helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle and is particularly useful for sleep onset insomnia.
• Orexin Receptor Antagonists block the action of orexin, a neurotransmitter that promotes wakefulness. By inhibiting orexin receptors (OX1 and OX2), they facilitate sleep.
  • Suvorexant (Belsomra): Used for sleep onset and maintenance insomnia.
• Antihistamines block histamine receptors in the brain, which has a sedative effect. Histamine is involved in promoting wakefulness.
  Examples:
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl): An over-the-counter medication often used as a sleep aid.
  • Doxylamine (Unisom): Another over-the-counter option for sleep.
• Antidepressants. Some of them have sedative properties due to their effects on various neurotransmitters, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and histamine.
  Examples:
  • Trazodone: Commonly used off-label for insomnia, particularly in patients with depression.
  • Doxepin (Silenor): A low-dose tricyclic antidepressant used for sleep maintenance.

There are other drugs and substances that have hypnotic properties, but we will focus on the most common in practice.


Combining Ayahuasca with sleeping pills can be extremely dangerous due to the potential interactions between the substances. Ayahuasca contains MAOIs from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the DMT from the Psychotria viridis plant. These components can interact negatively with many pharmaceuticals, including sleeping pills.

• Increased Sedative Effects: Sleeping pills, especially benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (like zolpidem and eszopiclone), can significantly increase the sedative effects when combined with the MAOIs in Ayahuasca. This can lead to excessive drowsiness, confusion, impaired motor functions, and an increased risk of accidents.
• Respiratory Depression: The combination can enhance respiratory depressive effects. This is particularly risky with benzodiazepines and barbiturates, which can slow down breathing to dangerous levels, potentially leading to respiratory failure.
• Serotonin Syndrome: If the sleeping pills influence serotonin levels (like some antidepressants used off-label for insomnia), combining them with Ayahuasca can lead to serotonin syndrome. This condition is characterized by high fever, agitation, increased reflexes, tremor, sweating, dilated pupils, and diarrhea. Severe cases can result in muscle rigidity, seizures, and even death.
• Hypertensive Crisis: The MAOIs in Ayahuasca can cause a hypertensive crisis if combined with certain medications found in some sleeping pills. This can result in a severe spike in blood pressure, leading to headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, and in extreme cases, stroke.
• Psychological Distress: Combining Ayahuasca with any sedative can also exacerbate psychological effects, including anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations, making the Ayahuasca experience more difficult to manage safely.

Using sleeping pills after an Ayahuasca trip to facilitate a smoother exit and restful sleep is generally not recommended due to potential interactions and risks. The active components of Ayahuasca, particularly harmine and DMT, may still be affecting the central nervous system. Introducing sleeping pills during this period can complicate the pharmacodynamics, increasing the risk of adverse effects like extreme sedation, confusion, or even coma.

It is strongly advised not to combine Ayahuasca with any form of sleeping pills or other central nervous system depressants. Typically, a washout period of at least two weeks is recommended for most medications before taking Ayahuasca to ensure they are cleared from your system.

These precautions are crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals engaging in Ayahuasca ceremonies.

All things considered, we recommend avoiding this combination under any conditions.