Ayahuasca and Cipralex

[Docmartin]

Hi there,

I have a friend who suffers from mild depression for which she takes 20mg of Cipralex daily as well as panic attacks which occur once weekly or so, for she takes a medication Urbanol when she has the attacks. She is wanting to use the plant medicine ayahuasca to see if this will help with the depression and panic attacks. I see that the half-life is 24 to 75 hours. How long should she wait until she tries the ayahuasca after stopping her meds? There is a ceremony coming up in 4 days and she was wondering whether or not she could stop now and attend.

Any Ideas?
Thanks

 

[Survived Abortion]

Unfortunately she has left it too late to plan the ceremony. After only 4 days there could still be anywhere up to 8mg or so of the drug left in her system. That may be enough to cause problems with harmaline. With the half-life of citalopram as it is, it will need to be stopped for a good 2 weeks to be certain it has cleared her system.

The benzodiazepines will be fine, but to get the most out of the ayahuasca session they should ideally be skipped for a few days. She may find after the session she no longer even wants to continue taking them.

Welcome to Bluelight

 

[Thorns Have Roses]

^What SA said, it's just too soon and she'll have to skip this ceremony. (And I must say that if your friend is in fact you, cut the third person stuff and speak in the first person. Not to be accusing you, it's just a bit suspicious when a first time poster posts on behalf of someone else.)

Also, Doc Martin is a great show. Thumbs up to your taste.