Is Kava Safe with Oxycodone?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Never combine kava with oxycodone. Kava can cause oxycodone to build up to dangerous levels in your blood. Contact your doctor before using any herbal supplement while on oxycodone.
Why this interaction occurs
Oxycodone is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Kava constituents (kavalactones) are known inhibitors of these enzymes, which can significantly reduce oxycodone clearance and lead to toxic plasma concentrations, increasing the risk of severe respiratory depression, coma, and death.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 298,224 reports mentioning Oxycodone. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Oxycodone + 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 Oxycodone interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.