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Kava
Aka: Kava, Kava Kava
- Indications
- Anxiety Disorder
- Mechanism
- Potentiates GABA neurotransmitters
- Adverse Effects
- Serious Extrapyramidal Side Effects
- Excessive Sedation when used with other CNS depressants
- May exacerbate Parkinson's Disease
- Platelet Dysfunction
- Dermopathy or Photosensitivity
- Pruritic Red Papules and Plaques
- May be related to Sun Exposure after kava ingestion
- Hepatotoxicity
- Unclear mechanism and incomplete data
- Some cases progressed to liver failure
- Anke (2004) Planta Med 70(3):193-6
- Drug Interactions
- Multiple cytochrome P450 interactions
- Additive effects with CNS Depressants
- Benzodiazepines
- Barbiturates
- Antipsychotics
- Alcohol
- Precautions
- Routine use not recommended due to hepatotoxicity risk (see below)
- Avoid use longer than 24 weeks
- Discontinue at least 24 hours before surgery
- May potentiate perioperative anesthesia
- Efficacy
- Mildly effective in Anxiety Disorder
- Witte (2005) Phytother Res 19:183-8
- Resources
- FDA Warning regarding Kava Hepatotoxicity
- http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/addskava.html
- References
- Ang-Lee (2001) JAMA 286:208-16
- Cupp (1999) Am Fam Physician 59(5):1239-44