SRI + MAOI, How big is the risk?

[State of the Mind]

I have been wanting to experiment with caapi for a long time now. However it has been the combination of SSRI & MAOI (Causing Serotonin syndrome) that has stopped me from ever trying caapi or any other MAOI entheogens.

I take Sceletium tortuosum normally every other day. One of the active alkaloids in Sceletium Tortuosum is Mesembrine, which is a Serotonin reuptake inhibitor. I realise that a Serotonin reuptake inhibitor is different to SSRI, however they seem incredibly similar in my eyes. The combination of an SSRI with an MAOI is said to cause Serotonin syndrome. The quote is posted below:

One major contraindication of SSRIs is the concomitant use of MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). This is likely to cause severe serotonin syndrome/toxidrome.

I would like to know if anyone else has any information about how dangerous this combination is and also how much time to put in between using caapi and Sceletium Tortuosum.

All of my knowledge has been accumulated from wikipidia and it would be nice to hear someone's real life knowledge of this.

 

[acolon_5]

The risk appears to be real.

I can't say for sure, as I don't know the 1/2 life of all the SRIs in kanna (of which Mesembrine is probably only the most abundant / most potent), but I would stop the kanna for AT LEAST 1-2 weeks before ingesting a full MAO inhibiting dose of ANY MAOI.

 

[corpus callosum]

The risk of this combination is such that here in the UK a MAOI would not be commenced for two weeks after coming off an SSRI. MAOIs are used to treat depression here but only in patients who havent responded to the tricyclics,SSRIs or SNRIs.

I would heed this advice for as Acolon_5 stated the hazards are indeed real.

 

[State of the Mind]

Well, one thing I must note is that whenever I have been smoking Sceletium Tortuosum, I have been smoking it with Passionflower, a weak MAOI. Hadn't thought anything of it until I read up about serotonin syndrome. I have had no bad effects from this. I believe the MAOI potential in Passionflower is just too weak.

I have decided to refrain from using Sceletium Tortuosum for 2 weeks. It will be nice to stop using, as I have been dependant on it for nearly two months. After these 2 weeks, I plan on trying Ayahuasca.

Cheers for the input, callosum & Acolon. :d :d :d

 

[proto-pax]

From what I just read on wikipedia it seems that the maois are the same in cappi and passion flower. Still, I wouldn't suggest it until you're sure that the ssri is out of your system.