Is Kava Safe with Buspirone?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Avoid kava use with buspirone. If liver-related symptoms such as jaundice, dark urine, or abdominal pain develop, seek medical attention immediately and report all supplement use to your prescriber.
Why this interaction occurs
Kava has well-documented hepatotoxic potential through cytochrome P450 inhibition (CYP3A4, CYP2D6) and direct hepatocellular damage. Buspirone is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4; kava inhibition may elevate buspirone plasma levels unpredictably. Additive CNS depression is also a concern.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 30,342 reports mentioning Buspirone. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Buspirone + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Kava interactions → · All Buspirone interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.