What is kava?
Kava is also known as Piper methysticum, awa, kava-kava, kew, tonga, ava, ava pepper,
intoxicating pepper, kawa, kava pepper, kava root, rauschpfeffer, sakau, tonga, wurzelstock, and
yangona.
Kava has been used to induce and improve sleep, and to decrease anxiety, nervousness,
stress, and restlessness.
Kava has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be
substituted for prescription medications.
Kava may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking kava?
Before taking kava, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare
provider. You may not be able to use this product if you have liver or kidney disease, or certain
other medical conditions or allergies.
Kava has been shown to cause severe liver injury including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and
liver failure. Do not take kava if you have liver problems or take medications that can affect the
liver.
Do not take kava without first talking to your doctor if you are depressed or if you are
being treated for depression.
Kava may increase drowsiness when taken with substances that cause drowsiness,
including antidepressants, alcohol, sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety
medicines, and muscle relaxants. Do not take kava without first talking to your doctor if you take
any prescription or over-the-counter medicine or herbal/health supplement, that makes you
drowsy.
You should not take kava if you are pregnant.
Kava may cause
weaken muscle tone in the uterus.
Do not
take kava without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. It is not known whether kava will be harmful to a nursing infant.
How should I take kava?
Kava has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential
risks and/or advantages of this product may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated
manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have
been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements
should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
If you choose to take kava, use it exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your
doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider.
When used to treat insomnia, kava is usually taken one hour before bedtime. When used
for other purposes, kava may be taken one to several times a day.
Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may
provide a more reliable dose of the product.
Kava is available for oral use.
Other formulations of kava may also be available. Do not use different formulations
(e.g., tablets, topical formulations, teas, tinctures, and others) of kava at the same time, unless
specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different formulations together
increases the risk of an overdose of kava.
Kava should not be used for longer than three months without a doctor's supervision.
The long-term use of kava has reportedly lead to "kawanism", which is characterized by dry,
flaking, discolored skin; reddened eyes; a scaly skin rash; puffy face; muscle weakness; blood
abnormalities; and feelings of poor health.
Store kava as directed on the package. In general, kava should be protected from light and
moisture and stored in a sealed container.
What happens if I miss a dose of kava?
No information is available regarding a missed dose of kava. Ask your doctor,
pharmacist, or healthcare professional for instructions if you miss a dose.
Where can I get more information about kava?
Your pharmacist has information about kava written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of kava?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking kava and seek emergency medical attention if you have liver symptoms
such as nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Other less serious side effects have also been reported. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or
health care professional if you experience
-
morning drowsiness,
-
changes in vision, or
-
upset stomach.
Kava should not be used for longer than three months without a
doctor's supervision. The long-term use of kava has reportedly lead to "kawanism", which is
characterized by dry, flaking, discolored skin; reddened eyes; a scaly skin rash; puffy face;
muscle weakness; blood abnormalities; and feelings of poor health.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist,
or health care professional about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially
bothersome.
What is the most important information I should know about kava?
Kava has been shown to cause severe liver injury including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and
liver failure. Do not take kava if you have liver problems or take medications that can affect the
liver. Stop taking kava and seek emergency medical attention if you have liver symptoms such as
nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice
(yellowing of the skin or eyes).
You should not take kava if you are pregnant.
Kava may cause
weaken muscle tone in the uterus.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking kava. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver
damage.
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by kava. Tell your
doctor if you need to use any of these other medicines while you are taking kava.
Kava has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be
substituted for prescription medications.
Kava has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential
risks and/or advantages of this product may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated
manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have
been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements
should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
What should I avoid while taking kava?
Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without a doctor's advice.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking kava. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver
damage.
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by kava. Tell your
doctor if you need to use any of these other medicines while you are taking kava.
What other drugs will affect kava?
Before taking kava, tell your doctor if you are also using a sedative such as diazepam
(Valium) or similar medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium),
clorazepate (Tranxene), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), lorazepam (Ativan),
midazolam (Versed), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others.
There may be other drugs that can interact with kava. Tell your doctor about all your
prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of kava?