Does Kava interact with any drugs?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on April 30, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

There are over 260 drug interactions with kava, and some of them are serious. Talk to your doctor before using kava. Important drug interactions include alcohol, medicines that may cause liver toxicity, and other herbs or medicines that may cause drowsiness or dizziness.

Kava, native to the South Pacific, is a member of the pepper family. Kava has been used to improve sleep, decrease anxiety, and tame nervousness, stress, and restlessness.

Examples of drug interactions with Kava

Kava should not be used with alcohol or other drugs or herbs that can also cause liver toxicity. In addition, central nervous system side effects of kava such as dizziness and drowsiness may be increased by use with alcohol or other CNS depressants (like opioids, benzodiazepines or some antidepressants).

The use of buprenorphine (Buprenex, Butrans, Suboxone, Sublocade) with kava can lead to serious side effects such as respiratory distress, coma or even death.

Buprenorphine is an opiate medicine used for severe pain and for maintenance treatment for opiate addiction.
A similar effect may occur with other medications that also cause central nervous system depression like drowsiness or dizziness. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination or reflexes.

Products containing kava may cause liver problems, and consuming alcohol while taking kava can increase the risk of liver toxicity.

Call your doctor immediately if you have signs of liver toxicity like fever, joint pain, bleeding, skin rash or itch, appetite loss, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, stomach pain, dark colored urine, light colored stools, and/or yellowing of the skin / eyes.
Studies in children are lacking, and use is not recommended.

Learn more: Review Kava drug interactions (in more detail)

This is not all the information you need to know about Kava for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

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Does Kava interact with any drugs?

Examples of drug interactions with Kava

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