Is Kava Safe with Zolpidem?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Do NOT combine kava with zolpidem. This combination carries serious risk of respiratory depression and loss of consciousness. Seek immediate medical attention if shortness of breath or extreme drowsiness occurs.
Why this interaction occurs
Kavalactones inhibit neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels, potentiate GABA-A receptors, and may inhibit CYP3A4, increasing zolpidem plasma levels. The combination can cause dangerous additive CNS depression, respiratory suppression, and hepatotoxicity risk with chronic kava use.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Data source
PubMed: PMID 40510098
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 79,134 reports mentioning Zolpidem. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Zolpidem + 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 Zolpidem interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.