Kava drug interactions?

[prelohded]

Hello all,
I was curious to know if anyone here has experienced marked drug interactions with kava. I'm not really referring to alcohol or recreational drug use, but prescription meds. I've read a little online about possible interactions with antidepressants, but nothing serious. I know that a lot of kava users use kava to help with sleep problems. I know it's a long shot but I was wondering if anyone else uses Nuvigil? I myself am on Nuvigil for a sleep disorder, it basically makes me feel awake for a good 10 hours plus. I had such an incredibly strong reaction to my first time trying kava, only 2 tbsp total, I was wondering if maybe that had something to do with it. Thanks in advance.

 

[24601]

I'm on some prescription meds, including a benzo and some meds with sedative properties. I'm really careful not to take them with kava just in case, I'll wait a few hours after my last serving of kava before I'll take my medication. I have VERY occasionally taken the benzo either a little bit before my kava session or during (shouldn't have but didn't want to skip a dose because of the potential withdrawal effects) and I notice that it is much stronger with the kava than without.

You might just not need a lot of kava either - I find 2-4 tablespoons can affect me pretty strongly if my stomach is empty.

 

[prelohded]

Yeah I have to take my Nuvigil every day pretty much to keep me awake at work, and it stays in my system so long that it's pretty much always there. I think I may just be a lightweight. 2 tablespoons of moi rocked my world, I think I just need an ultra small dose or try a different strain that isn't so heady.

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

Was that 2 tablespoons of micronized ? 2 Tablespoons is a very small dose but some people do get good effects from lower doses. That wouldn't feel like much more than a mellow starter to me. Typically medications that utilize cytochrome P450 (and a couple others) to metabolize are the ones that you should be wary of combining with kava. It appears Nuvigil uses P450 and therefor may be the likely cause of your strong reaction...especially if you also happen to be a natural light weight to kava.

People on Parkinson's meds should also avoid...and obviously combing with other downers can have it's problems.

 

[prelohded]

Was that 2 tablespoons of micronized ? 2 Tablespoons is a very small dose but some people do get good effects from lower doses. That wouldn't feel like much more of a mellow starter to me. Typically medications that utilize cytochrome P450 (and a couple others) to metabolize are the ones that you should be wary of combining with kava. It appears Nuvigil uses P450 and therefor may be the likely cause of your strong reaction...especially if you also happen to be a natural light weight to kava.

People on Parkinson's meds should also avoid...and obviously combing with other downers can have it's problems.

Thanks for the great reply! That is good information to know. I also think I may have overdone it as far as an empty stomach goes, I hadn't had anything to eat for 8 hours. Yes it was micro. It was the only kava I've ever had so I have nothing to compare it to.