DMT vs Ayahuasca
DMT is one chemical; ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian brew that contains DMT and other alkaloids. This page explains the difference, the key interaction risk, and what research shows.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Urgent first. Ayahuasca contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Combining it with antidepressants or other serotonergic medicines can cause serotonin syndrome, which can be life-threatening. For an emergency call 911 or US Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. In the US, call or text 988 for a mental health crisis. Never change or stop a prescribed medicine without the prescriber.
This page is education only. It gives no amounts, no recipe, no ceremony or preparation details and no advice to use anything.
A compound and a brew are not the same thing
- DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is a single compound, an indole alkaloid found widely in plants and animals. [1] NIDA also lists a lab-made form. [2]
- Ayahuasca is a traditional botanical brew used for therapeutic and ritual purposes by Indigenous groups in northwestern Amazonian countries such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. It is made from two plants: one rich in DMT (the leaves of Psychotria viridis) and one rich in beta-carbolines such as harmine (the stalks of the vine Banisteriopsis caapi). [3]
Ayahuasca contains more than DMT, and a purified DMT product is not ayahuasca. An isolated compound is not the cultural practice. For tradition, ethics and conservation see indigenous traditions, ethics and conservation, and for the brew see ayahuasca and the vine profile Banisteriopsis caapi.
Why the other ingredient matters
DMT is nearly inactive by mouth because of rapid first-pass metabolism. Beta-carbolines that inhibit the enzyme MAO-A greatly increase its availability and duration of action, which is why the combination appears in ayahuasca. [4] Other things in the brew may add to its overall effects. [4] So the experience and risks of DMT given directly, as in the trials below, cannot be assumed for ayahuasca, or the other way around. Never merge DMT and ayahuasca in your mind.Side by side
| DMT alone (clinical studies) | Ayahuasca (traditional brew) | |
|---|---|---|
| What is studied | A single compound, given by injection or infusion in trials we read | A decoction of two plants |
| Evidence | Early trials: small pilot with 10 people, and a randomized phase IIa trial in 34 adults with depression [5][6] | A review found good safety and tolerability in human studies but few controlled studies, small samples, single doses and short follow-up [3] |
| Label | promising but limited | promising but limited to insufficient evidence |
In the randomized DMT trial, depression scores fell more than with placebo at 2 weeks, and no serious adverse events occurred. [6]
Interaction and safety risks
- A 1998 paper warned that the MAO-inhibiting alkaloids in ayahuasca and SSRI antidepressants may cause serotonin syndrome with a potentially grave outcome. [7]
- A 2026 case report describes severe serotonin syndrome with respiratory failure, intensive care and intubation in a man who took ayahuasca followed by over-the-counter dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine. [8] It is one case, but it shows the danger of combining ayahuasca with common medicines.
- A review of human drug interactions with classic psychedelics found only one ayahuasca study. [9]
Talk with a health professional about any medicine you take. See psychedelic drug interactions and toxicology.
Legal status
Not legal advice; laws change. In the United States, 21 CFR 1308.11 lists dimethyltryptamine in Schedule I (eCFR, read 2026-10-22). [10] We did not find Psychotria, Banisteriopsis or ayahuasca named in the text of that section, which does not tell you how any activity involving the brew is treated. Other countries: not verified. See psychedelic legal status by country.Frequently asked questions
Is ayahuasca just DMT?
No. It is a brew from two plants containing DMT and beta-carbolines such as harmine. [3]
Why do the two get confused?
DMT is the main psychoactive alkaloid in ayahuasca, but it is not exclusive to it, and the brew's other alkaloids change how DMT acts. [4]
Can ayahuasca be mixed with antidepressants?
Reports describe serious serotonin syndrome risk. This page cannot advise anyone; speak with the prescriber first. [7][8]
Has ayahuasca been proven to treat depression?
Not yet. Reviewers report few controlled studies with small samples and short follow-up. [3]
References
- Carbonaro TM, Gatch MB. Neuropharmacology of N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Brain Res Bull. 2016;126:74-88. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ayahuasca pharmacology, safety and therapeutic potential review, CNS Spectr. 2024;30(1):e2. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Egger K et al. Neurobiological research on N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and its potentiation by monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition: from ayahuasca to synthetic combinations of DMT and MAO inhibitors. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2024;81(1):395. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- D'Souza DC et al. Exploratory study of the dose-related safety, tolerability, and efficacy of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in healthy volunteers and major depressive disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022;47(10):1854-1862. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Erritzoe D et al. A short-acting psychedelic intervention for major depressive disorder: a phase IIa randomized placebo-controlled trial. Nat Med. 2026;32(2):591-598. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Callaway JC, Grob CS. Ayahuasca preparations and serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a potential combination for severe adverse interactions. J Psychoactive Drugs. 1998;30(4):367-369. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Pack S et al. Severe Serotonin Syndrome With Acute Respiratory Failure Following Ayahuasca and Dextromethorphan Use: A Case Report. Cureus. 2026;18(8):e114211. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Halman A et al. Drug-drug interactions involving classic psychedelics: A systematic review. J Psychopharmacol. 2024;38(1):3-18. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- US Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I. Read 2026-10-22.