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Interaktioner med medicin

What laboratory studies, small human studies and case reports actually show about kava interactions.

Kort & Præcist

Kava can interact with medicines and other central nervous system depressants. Laboratory findings show several possible CYP inhibitions, but small human studies do not confirm one uniform pattern across all enzymes. Alcohol and sedatives in particular should not be self-combined; regular medication warrants individual review.

CYP450-systemet

CYP450-systemet (CYP450) er en familie af enzymer i leveren, der er ansvarlige for nedbrydning af de fleste lægemidler. Når et stof hæmmer disse enzymer, nedbrydes andre stoffer langsommere – deres virkning og bivirkninger kan derfor forstærkes.

Hvorfor er det vigtigt?

Many medicines are metabolised by CYP enzymes. An in-vitro finding does not automatically mean clinically relevant inhibition in humans. Preparation, dose, duration and the medicine's therapeutic window determine practical relevance.

Hvilke enzymer hæmmes?

Mathews et al. (2002) tested kava extract and individual kavalactones in human liver microsomes and found inhibition of several CYP enzymes. These are in-vitro findings, not clinical inhibition ratings in humans:

EnzymHæmningsstyrkeVigtige substrater (eksempler)
CYP1A2In-vitro findingKoffein, Theophyllin, Clozapin, Olanzapin
CYP2C9In-vitro findingWarfarin, Phenytoin, NSAID'er (Ibuprofen)
CYP2C19In-vitro findingOmeprazol, Diazepam, Clopidogrel
CYP2D6In-vitro findingKodein, Tramadol, mange antidepressiva
CYP3A4In-vitro findingBenzodiazepiner, Statiner, mange antibiotika

Klinisk betydning

Russmann et al. (2005) reported reduced CYP1A2 activity in chronic users of traditional aqueous kava. Gurley et al. (2005; 12 healthy volunteers, 28 days, 138 mg kavalactones/day), by contrast, found reduced CYP2E1 but no significant change in CYP1A2, CYP2D6 or CYP3A4/5. The human findings are small and preparation- and consumption-dependent, so they cannot predict every medicine interaction.

Højrisiko-kombinationer

The following combinations should be avoided or medically reviewed in advance. Reasons differ: some involve additive CNS effects or case reports, while others have only mechanistic signals and no controlled combination trials.

⚠ Alkohol

Risiko: AVOID

Concurrent use of kava and alcohol is not recommended:

  • 1.Additive CNS effects: Drowsiness, slower reactions and impaired coordination may increase.
  • 2.Liver risk not quantified: A combined liver risk has not been quantified reliably; the combination is avoided because of this uncertainty.
  • 3.Unpredictable intensity: Product, amount, drinking pattern and individual sensitivity make effects difficult to predict.

Do not use kava and alcohol together. The main practical reason is possible additive impairment of attention, reaction and coordination; the size of any additional liver risk is not reliably established.

⚠ Benzodiazepiner & sovemidler

Risiko: PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

Do not combine benzodiazepines or Z-drugs with kava without medical review:

  • •Additive sedation: Drowsiness and psychomotor impairment may increase.
  • •CNS depression: Clinically relevant potentiation is possible; controlled combination trials are lacking.
  • •Interpret CYP findings: CYP3A4 inhibition was observed in vitro but not consistently confirmed in small human studies.

Case-rapport: Almeida & Grimsley (1996) described a semicomatose state in a 54-year-old man after reported kava and alprazolam use. A single case report is a warning signal but does not establish mechanism or frequency.

⚠ Antipsykotika

Risiko: PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

Individual medical review is appropriate before kava use with antipsychotics:

  • •Sedation: Additive drowsiness or psychomotor impairment is possible.
  • •Case reports: Individual reports describe movement disorders; frequency and causality are unclear.
  • •CYP findings: Laboratory inhibition does not reliably predict the level of a specific medicine.

⚠ Antikoagulantia (blodfortyndere)

Risiko: PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

Warfarin, phenprocoumon and other anticoagulants require professional review because of their narrow therapeutic window:

  • •Mechanistic signal: CYP2C9 inhibition was observed in vitro; a clinical kava-warfarin interaction has not been established in controlled studies.
  • •Monitor INR: Changes in co-used products should be coordinated with the treating clinician.
  • •Bleeding risk: The baseline risk of anticoagulation makes self-testing inappropriate.

Use kava with anticoagulation only after individual medical review.

Kombinationer med moderat risiko

De følgende kombinationer kræver forsigtighed og bør kun ske efter konsultation med en læge. En dosisjustering kan være nødvendig.

Antidepressiva

Risiko: PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

SSRI'er (Fluoxetin, Sertralin, Paroxetin osv.):
  • • Pharmacokinetic interactions may occur depending on the product but are not clinically established as a class
  • • Serotonin syndrome from kava is not established as a typical clinical effect
  • • Additive drowsiness or dizziness are possible
SNRI'er (Venlafaxin, Duloxetin):
  • • Direct clinical combination data are limited
  • • Review co-medication individually rather than inferring from in-vitro CYP data
MAO-hæmmere:
  • • MAO-B effects of individual kavalactones have been studied preclinically
  • • Pawa et al. (2026) found MAO-A inhibition by flavokawain A in an in-vitro enzyme assay; humans and combination with MAO inhibitors were not studied
  • • Do not self-combine with MAO inhibitors because medicine interactions can be serious
  • • Obtain medical review before use

Antikonvulsiva (antiepileptika)

Risiko: PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

Phenytoin, Carbamazepin, Valproat og andre antikonvulsiva:

  • •Pharmacokinetics: Altered levels are possible but cannot be predicted reliably for individual combinations.
  • •CNS effects: Additive drowsiness or coordination problems are possible.
  • •Seizure control: Changes in co-used products belong under professional supervision.

Ved epilepsi bør Kava kun anvendes under lægeligt tilsyn.

Parkinson-medicin

Risiko: PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

Levodopa og dopaminagonister:

  • •Mechanism unclear: Blanket clinical dopamine antagonism by kava has not been established.
  • •Case reports: Individual reports describe worsening Parkinson symptoms; medical review is therefore needed.

With Parkinson's disease or related medication, use kava only after medical review.

Hepatotoksiske lægemidler

Risiko: MODERAT

Lægemidler med kendt hepatotoksisk potentiale:

  • •Paracetamol/Acetaminophen: Især problematisk ved højere doser
  • •Statiner: Atorvastatin, Simvastatin osv. (CYP3A4-substrater)
  • •Methotrexat: Immunosuppressiv med leverskade
  • •Isoniazid: Tuberkulose-medicin

Additional liver risk is plausible but not quantified for every combination. Potentially hepatotoxic medication requires individual medical review.

Oversigtstabel over interaktioner

StofklasseEksemplerRisikoMekanisme
AlkoholEthanolAVOIDPossible additive sedation and impaired coordination; liver risk not quantified
BenzodiazepinerDiazepam, Lorazepam, AlprazolamPROFESSIONAL REVIEWPossible additive CNS depression; one case report, no controlled combination trials
AntipsykotikaHaloperidol, Olanzapin, ClozapinPROFESSIONAL REVIEWSedation or interactions possible; direct clinical data limited
AntikoagulantienWarfarin, PhenprocoumonPROFESSIONAL REVIEWNo controlled kava interaction established; narrow therapeutic window
SSRI'erFluoxetin, Sertralin, ParoxetinPROFESSIONAL REVIEWPossible sedation or pharmacokinetics; no established kava serotonin syndrome
AntikonvulsivaPhenytoin, CarbamazepinPROFESSIONAL REVIEWPossible additive CNS effects and unpredictable pharmacokinetics
Parkinson-medicinLevodopa, dopaminagonisterPROFESSIONAL REVIEWCase reports of symptom worsening; no blanket dopamine antagonism established
StatinerAtorvastatin, SimvastatinPROFESSIONAL REVIEWDirect clinical interaction data are lacking; review liver and medication context
OpioiderKodein, Tramadol, MorfinAVOID / REVIEWPossible additive CNS depression
KoffeinKaffe, energidrikkeCAUTIONHuman CYP1A2 findings are small and inconsistent

Praktiske anbefalinger

Tjekliste før Kava-forbrug

  • 1.
    Tjek medicinliste

    Kontroller alle aktuelle lægemidler for interaktioner

  • 2.
    Konsulter læge

    Søg lægelig rådgivning før Kava-forbrug ved regelmæssig medicinindtagelse

  • 3.
    Undgå alkohol

    Do not use kava and alcohol together. The main practical reason is possible additive impairment of attention, reaction and coordination; the size of any additional liver risk is not reliably established.

  • 4.
    Doser lavt

    Do not experiment with a self-selected lower kava dose while taking medicines; obtain professional review of the combination.

  • 5.
    Overvåg symptomer

    Vær opmærksom på usædvanlig træthed, svimmelhed eller andre symptomer

Fortsæt i kapitlet Sikkerhed

Baseret på studier af

Christopher McCurdy

University of Florida College of Pharmacy

Se profil →

Med bidrag fra

Dette wiki er en kureret ressource, der syntetiserer forskning fra fagfællebedømte studier og ekspertforskere. Det er ikke skrevet af de forskere, der er anført ovenfor, men snarere baseret på deres offentliggjorte arbejde.

Videnskabelige Kilder

Oplysningerne på denne side er baseret på følgende videnskabelige studier og publikationer:

Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) Is the Principal Enzyme Responsible for Urethane Metabolism

Hoffler U., El-Masri H.A., Ghanayem B.I. (2003) – Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Se studie

Kava: From Ethnology to Pharmacology

Yadhu N. Singh (Editor) (2004) – CRC Press

Se studie
Last updated: 18. marts 2026•New study added