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Kava (Kavalactones)

Anxiolyticoral · inferred

Psychoactive extract from Piper methysticum root containing six major kavalactones (kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, desmethoxyyangonin). Anxiolytic mechanism involves GABAA receptor potentiation (flumazenil-insensitive), voltage-gated sodium and calcium channel blockade, MAO-B inhibition, and reduced norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake. Kavain Tmax ~1.8h, elimination half-life ~9h. Hepatotoxicity risk with chronic/high-dose use or combined with alcohol.

Projected serum levels — 250 mg, once daily

Kava (Kavalactones)
Kava (Kavalactones) modeled serum levels, 250 mg once daily over 20 days Population-based pharmacokinetic estimate. Steady state reached after approximately 7 days. 0 125 250 375 500 Day 0 Day 5 Day 10 Day 15 Day 20 Time on a regular schedule ≈ steady state · day 7
Kava (Kavalactones) modeled serum levels with a loading dose of 750 mg, then 250 mg once daily The first dose is larger so levels approach steady state faster. 0 125 250 375 500 Day 0 Day 5 Day 10 Day 15 Day 20 Time on a regular schedule

Maintenance schedule: 250 mg once daily (oral).

Loading schedule: 750 mg on day 1, then 250 mg once daily — reaching therapeutic levels sooner.

Modeled steady state after ~7 days: peak ≈ 493 mg, trough ≈ 380 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 20 days for a 250 mg dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.

Key facts

Category
Anxiolytic
Route modeled
Oral
Model confidence
inferred
Half-life
2.5 days
Common dose
250 mg
Reference dose range
125–500 mg (single dose)
Suggested cadence
once daily

Documented interactions

  • danger
    1P-LSD (1-Propionyl-LSD) + Kava (Kavalactones) Serotonin risk

    1P-LSD (1-Propionyl-LSD) and Kava (Kavalactones) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).

  • danger
    25I-NBOMe + Kava (Kavalactones) Serotonin risk

    25I-NBOMe and Kava (Kavalactones) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).

  • danger
    2C-I (2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine) + Kava (Kavalactones) Serotonin risk

    2C-I (2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine) and Kava (Kavalactones) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).

  • danger
    2C-B (4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) + Kava (Kavalactones) Serotonin risk

    2C-B (4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) and Kava (Kavalactones) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).

  • danger
    3-MeO-PCP (3-Methoxyphencyclidine) + Kava (Kavalactones) Serotonin risk

    3-MeO-PCP (3-Methoxyphencyclidine) and Kava (Kavalactones) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).

  • danger
    4-AcO-DMT (Psilacetin) + Kava (Kavalactones) Serotonin risk

    4-AcO-DMT (Psilacetin) and Kava (Kavalactones) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).

Serum checks 511 modeled interaction pairings for kava (kavalactones) across your whole stack — absorption conflicts, enzyme inhibition, and nutrient depletion included.

Research behind this entry

  1. Kavain, the Major Constituent of the Anxiolytic Kava Extract, Potentiates GABAA Receptors: Functional Characteristics and Molecular Mechanism Chua HC et al. · PLOS ONE, 2016 DOI

    First experimental evidence of direct kavalactone-GABAA receptor interaction in vitro. Kavain potentiated all GABAA receptor subtypes in a flumazenil-insensitive manner, with greater enhancement at alpha4-beta2-delta…

  2. Clinical pharmacokinetics of kavalactones after oral dosing of standardized kava extract in healthy volunteers Teschke R et al. · Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2022 DOI

    Characterized clinical pharmacokinetics of five kavalactones in healthy volunteers. Kavain and dihydrokavain rapidly absorbed (Tmax 10 min), methysticin/dihydromethysticin slower (30-45 min). Elimination half-life ~9…

  3. Kava: A Comprehensive Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Psychopharmacology Sarris J, LaPorte E, Schweitzer I · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2011 DOI

    Comprehensive review of kava efficacy in anxiety (positive meta-analysis of RCTs), safety profile including hepatotoxicity concerns, and multi-target psychopharmacology involving GABA, sodium channels, MAO-B, and…

  4. Clinical pharmacokinetics of kavalactones after oral dosing of standardized kava extract in healthy volunteers. Kanumuri SRR, Mamallapalli J, Nelson R, McCurdy CR, Mathews CA, Xing C, Sharma A · Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2022 DOI

    This citation reports a human primary study involving Kava (Kavalactones). It does not by itself establish a qualified dose, safety profile, efficacy claim, or pharmacokinetic route for this record.

4 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.