Overcoming the clinical challenges of traditional ayahuasca: a first-in-human trial exploring novel routes of administration of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine and harmine.
Frontiers in pharmacology January 1, 2023 Dario A Dornbierer, Laurenz Marten, Jovin Mueller et al. 32 citations
Ayahuasca, an Amazonian plant medicine containing DMT and harmine, shows promise for mental health disorders but its oral use causes gastrointestinal side effects and unpredictable drug levels. This study tested new ayahuasca-analogue formulations in 10 healthy men: an oral capsule of purified DMT and harmine versus a combined oromucosal harmine tablet with intranasal DMT spray. The combined buccal/intranasal route significantly reduced variations in systemic exposure and attenuated common side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea compared to traditional oral ayahuasca. All preparations were well tolerated. This approach may enable safer, patient-friendly DMT/harmine administration for affective disorders.