Table 2. Frequency and persistence of adverse physical and psychological effects experienced by participants when using ayahuasca (n=614).
| Adverse effects | Frequency of occurrence | Persistence* | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never | Rarely | Occasionally | Often | Always | ||
| Physical | ||||||
| Diaphoresis | 354 (57.65) | 193 (31.43) | 59 (9.61) | 7 (1.14) | 1 (0.16) | 8 (1.30) |
| Diarrhea | 95 (15.47) | 199 (32.41) | 274 (44.63) | 38 (6.19) | 8 (1.30) | 101 (16.45) |
| Dizziness | 236 (38.44) | 214 (34.85) | 143 (23.29) | 18 (2.93) | 3 (0.49) | 40 (6.51) |
| Dry mouth | 315 (51.30) | 154 (25.08) | 115 (18.73) | 22 (3.58) | 8 (1.30) | 30 (4.89) |
| Headache | 350 (57.00) | 192 (31.27) | 69 (11.24) | 3 (0.49) | 0 (0.00) | 46 (7.49) |
| Nausea | 52 (8.47) | 127 (20.68) | 360 (58.63) | 68 (11.07) | 7 (1.14) | 129 (21.01) |
| Shivers | 195 (31.76) | 148 (24.10) | 222 (36.16) | 39 (6.35) | 10 (1.63) | 9 (1.47) |
| Tachycardia | 182 (29.64) | 175 (28.50) | 200 (32.57) | 47 (7.65) | 10 (1.63) | 9 (1.47) |
| Tinnitus | 166 (27.04) | 165 (26.87) | 231 (37.62) | 41 (6.68) | 11 (1.79) | 23 (3.75) |
| Tremor | 177 (28.83) | 191 (31.11) | 209 (34.04) | 31 (5.05) | 6 (0.98) | 12 (1.95) |
| Vomiting | 20 (3.26) | 94 (15.31) | 421 (68.57) | 72 (11.73) | 7 (1.14) | 75 (12.21) |
| Psychological | ||||||
| Anxiety | 361 (58.79) | 162 (26.38) | 86 (14.01) | 3 (0.49) | 2 (0.33) | 14 (2.28) |
| Disorientation | 459 (74.76) | 120 (19.54) | 34 (5.54) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.16) | 93 (15.15) |
| Distress | 380 (61.89) | 156 (25.41) | 74 (12.05) | 3 (0.49) | 1 (0.16) | 19 (3.09) |
| Drowsiness | 162 (26.38) | 166 (27.04) | 253 (41.21) | 25 (4.07) | 8 (1.30) | 17 (2.77) |
| Irritability | 498 (81.11) | 93 (15.15) | 23 (3.75) | 0 (0.00) | 0 (0.00) | 4 (0.65) |
| Restlessness | 362 (58.96) | 158 (25.73) | 83 (13.52) | 10 (1.63) | 1 (0.16) | 23 (3.75) |
Data presented as n (%).
*
Participants who reported that the adverse effects persisted after the ceremony was over. The total duration of these persistent effects was not considered.