How Long Does Ayahuasca Last? Experience, Side Effects & More

Are you wondering how long ayahuasca would stay in your system? Will it show in the drug test?

Ayahuasca has been proven to do wonders that’s why many want to try it. However, most of them were scared because they feared that it would show on drug tests when they look for work.

I understand that many want to find the answer to this question. So, continue reading!

How Long Does Ayahuasca Last?

The principal ingredient of ayahuasca is DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine), a psychedelic drug considered as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States. It is used in some religious ceremonies in various settings to achieve “awakening” or spiritual light.

DMT has been used as a drug for thousands of years to combat mental health problems like depression and addiction to name a few. It has also been used as part of shamanic rituals due to its mental effects which include euphoria, floating, vivid hallucinations, depersonalization, and altered sense of time.

According to Medical News Today⁽¹⁾https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/306889, the effects of DMT differ on how you consume it. When taken as a brew in the form of ayahuasca, one might start to feel its effect after 30 to 45 minutes from consumption. The result will peak after 2 to 3 hours and usually, it will be resolved in 4 to 6 hours.

DMT can also be smoked or injected. When smoked, the effects of DMT peak and plateau for 3 to 5 minutes and gradually drop off with the duration of effect totaling up to 30 to 45 minutes.

DMT has no effects when taken orally by itself because it is quickly broken down by monoamine oxidase. However, ayahuasca contains both DMT and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs.) MAOIs prevent the DMT from being broken down that’s why the effects of ayahuasca may last longer. According to the Spirit Vine Ayahuasca Retreat Center⁽²⁾https://spiritvineretreats.com/ayahuasca-blog/how-long-does-the-ayahuasca-experience-last/, in ayahuasca trip, the DMT may stay in one’s system for up to 15 hours.

What Happens While Under The Effects Of DMT?

After taking ayahuasca one may experience hallucinations due to the presence of DMT. It may include body and spatial distortions. Some also vomit during the experience.

The hallucinogens can affect the action of the brain chemical serotonin which regulates mood, sensory perception, sleep, hunger, body temperature, and muscle control.

Meanwhile, taking ayahuasca comes with risk and side effects. DMT may result in increased heart rate and blood pressure. It may also result in serious complications like seizures, respiratory arrest and coma.

How Long Does DMT Stay In Urine, Blood, Saliva And Hair As Effects Of Ayahuasca?

Many are having second thoughts about using ayahuasca due to the presence of DMT thinking that it might show up in their drug test results. The good thing is that DMT is not part of the screening process for standard drug tests used for law enforcement, employment and treatment purposes.

However, it might still appear on certain tests. So, there are still risks when taking ayahuasca due to potential side effects and legal consequences. DMT is still illegal under state and federal law.

To give you a concrete overview, here’s how long it will stay in your system — urine, blood, hair, and saliva.

How long does DMT stay in your urine?

DMT is detectable in urine drug tests for 24 hours after it is administered. Urine drug tests rarely include DMT screening but it is still possible to test for it. However, you should also note that certain variables can influence how long DMT stays in your urine like your urinary pH levels. According to research, if you have high urinary pH or alkaline urine, you will likely retain the DMT for a longer period of time compared to those with low urinary pH.

How long does DMT stay in your hair?

Hair-based drug tests are the best method for DMT screening. It’s the most preferred because it can still detect DMT even months after it was last administered by a user. Hair tests can detect DMT for as long as 90 days post-administration. This is true even if you only try DMT or take ayahuasca once.

How long does DMT stay in your blood?

If a drug test is screening for DMT via a blood sample, it can be detected for up to 24 hours post-administration. In this approach, the dosage can affect how long it stays in the blood. A single DMT dose is metabolized and eliminated from the plasma quickly often in under two hours. That’s why blood tests are rarely used for DMT detection.

How long does DMT stay in your saliva?

DMT is difficult to detect in saliva. According to Northeast Addictions Treatment Center⁽³⁾https://neaddictions.com/articles/dmt-in-your-system/,DMT stays in the saliva when administered through smoking or snorting. It could be detectable between 24 hours to five days after it was consumed.

Overall, DMT will stay in your system depending on the dosage, frequency of use, and how it is consumed. The duration differs because some variables affect it including genetics, weight, and kidney function.

For instance, there are people who metabolize DMT at a slower rate. Also, DMT is processed through the kidneys and people with kidney problems may take longer to completely excrete the DMT compared to healthy individuals.

How Long Does The Ayahuasca Experience Last?

Ayahuasca is incorporated in religious ceremonies for spiritual development and personal transformation. Many join an ayahuasca ceremony for mental, emotional, and spiritual healing. Although DMT will only stay in the system for a couple of hours to days, people who took ayahuasca have an afterglow effect that lasts from three to six months.

During those times, they gain new perspectives and the learnings stay with them even after returning home from their ayahuasca trip. In fact, those who report the most benefits of Ayahuasca generally allow time to process and integrate what they learned into their daily life after their active Ayahuasca experience. Ayahausca integration is very important for one to achieve the transformation they expect from the brew.

If you wish to learn more, check our ayahuasca blog.

Sources

• spiritvineretreats.com/ayahuasca-blog/how-long-does-the-ayahuasca-experience-last/
• ayahuascachurches.org/how-long-does-ayahuasca-last-and-other-important-questions/
• healthline.com/health/how-long-does-dmt-last
• medicalnewstoday.com/articles/306889
• neaddictions.com/articles/dmt-in-your-system/