Is kava (Piper methysticum) Safe with venlafaxine?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Do not use kava supplements while taking venlafaxine. If kava has been used, inform your prescriber immediately and seek emergency care if you experience muscle twitching, rapid heart rate, restlessness, sweating, or hyperreflexia.
Why this interaction occurs
Kavalactones inhibit CYP2D6 and monoamine oxidase (MAO), reducing metabolism of venlafaxine and its active metabolites. This leads to elevated serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor concentrations in the neuronal cleft, precipitating serotonin syndrome. The interaction may cause symptoms refractory to standard treatments (cyproheptadine, benzodiazepines) requiring prolonged hospitalization.
Evidence
Evidence level: limited.
Data source
PubMed - PMID 40510098
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 92,249 reports mentioning venlafaxine. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the venlafaxine + 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 (Piper methysticum) interactions → · All venlafaxine interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.