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Indications

Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

REMS


Contraind./Precautions

Contraindicated in:

Use Cautiously in:

Adv. Reactions/Side Effects

Derm: allergic skin reactions, pellagroid dermopathy, yellow discoloration of skin

EENT: Pupil dilation, red eyes, visual accommodation disorders

GI: gastrointestinal complaints, HEPATOTOXICITY

Hemat: lymphocytes, decreased platelets

Metab: weight loss (long term, high dose)

Neuro: ataxia, dizziness, drowsiness, extrapyramidal effects, headache, muscle weakness, sensory disturbances

Interactions

Natural-Drug Products:

Natural-Natural Products:

Availability

(Generic available)

Route/Dosage

US Brand Names

Ava pepper, intoxicating pepper, kao, kew, tonga, wurzelstock, yagona

Action

  • Alters the limbic system modulation of emotional processes.
  • Shown to have centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant properties activated.
Therapeutic effects:
  • Relief of anxiety.
  • Sedation.

Classifications

Therapeutic Classification: antianxiety agents, sedative/hypnotics

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Peak plasma level occurs about 1.8 hr after an oral dose.

Distribution: Enters breast milk.

Metabolism/Excretion: Elimination occurs primarily by renal excretion (both unchanged and metabolites) and in the feces. Metabolized by the liver (reduction or demethylation).

Half-Life: Approximately 9 hr.

Time/Action Profile

ROUTEONSETPEAKDURATION
PO1.8 hrunknown8 hr

Patient/Family Teaching

Pronunciation

KA-va KA-va