Drug & supplement interaction

Ayahuasca + Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq

Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq brand name: Polivy.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Ayahuasca has a moderate interaction with Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq. Theoretically, ayahuasca might increase plasma concentrations of CYP3A4 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Ayahuasca and Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq

Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Ayahuasca interacts with.

Theoretically, ayahuasca might increase plasma concentrations of CYP3A4 substrates.
Ayahuasca contains beta-carboline alkaloids. In vitro research suggests that beta-carboline alkaloids competitively inhibit CYP3A4 enzymes. This effect has not been reported in humans.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist for Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq). Part of this drug, the cell-killing piece called MMAE, is partly cleared by a liver enzyme known as CYP3A4. Ayahuasca contains beta-carboline compounds that, in lab dishes, can slow that same enzyme down. If that happened in a person, more of the active drug could linger in the body, which in theory could mean stronger side effects like nerve tingling or numbness (peripheral neuropathy), low blood counts, fatigue, or infection risk.

I want to be honest about the evidence: this is only test-tube data and has not been shown in real people, so it's theoretical. Still, since Polivy is a serious cancer treatment, please run any ayahuasca use past your oncologist or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Zhao, T., He, Y. Q., Wang, J., Ding, K. M., Wang, C. H., and Wang, Z. T. Inhibition of human cytochrome P450 enzymes 3A4 and 2D6 by β-carboline alkaloids, harmine derivatives. Phytother Res 2011;25(11):1671-1677.
  2. dos Santos RG. Safety and side effects of ayahuasca in humans--an overview focusing on developmental toxicology. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2013 Jan-Mar;45(1):68-78. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Ayahuasca Also Interacts With Other Medications

Ayahuasca has 804 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 804 No known interaction 2,026 (incl. Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ayahuasca

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Ayahuasca. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq

This page covers Ayahuasca only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq page lists 151 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Wine (major).

By severity: 5 major · 117 moderate · 29 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq page

“Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq) is an IV antibody therapy for large B-cell lymphoma, and the 151 supplements and herbs on this page warrant genuine care, starting with the five rated major. Nearly every entry touches one of two pressure points.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Ayahuasca and Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Ayahuasca
Top half

#535 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq
Top 10%

#163 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Ayahuasca

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca
  • Spiritual and ceremonial rituals
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Substance use disorders
  • Personal or emotional insight

Ayahuasca is a powerful psychoactive brew that combines a DMT-containing plant with a vine that allows the DMT to take effect, causing intense hallucinations. It is illegal in many places, can trigger dangerous reactions, and is not recommended for self-use; talk to a doctor or pharmacist before considering it.

Read the full Ayahuasca monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq Injection

What Is Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq Injection Used For?

Brand name: Polivy

  • Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq injection is used along with bendamustine (Belrapzo, Treanda) and rituximab (Rituxan) in adults to treat a certain type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; a type of cancer that begins in a type of white blood cells that normally fights infection) that did not improve or improved but returned after treatment with at least two other chemotherapy medications. Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq is in a class of medications called antibody-drug conjugates. It works by killing cancer cells.

See full Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ayahuasca

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Ayahuasca — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
804Moderate
0Minor
2,025No known interaction
804 Moderate 2,025 No interaction
Moderate

804 interactions

Showing 60 of 804 moderate interactions — see all 804 on the Ayahuasca page.

No interaction 2,025 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Ayahuasca against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,025 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Ayahuasca list.

See the full Ayahuasca interactions page
See every supplement checked against Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Ayahuasca monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq, ranked by severity Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Ayahuasca and Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq Together: Common Questions

Can you take Ayahuasca with Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Ayahuasca and Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Polatuzumab Vedotin-Piiq and Ayahuasca?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.