Kava kava, also called just kava, is a medicinal herb that's typically used for its calming or sedativelike effects. Kava kava is often used as an herbal remedy for treating insomnia, anxiety, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and tension headaches. Although medical researchers have considered kava kava to be a safe herbal remedy, case reports and some studies have found that the herb can have potentially dangerous side effects, even in people who are generally healthy.
Liver Damage
If you take high doses or even normal amounts of kava kava, you may be at risk for serious liver damage, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. An increasing number of case reports have found liver damage in taking kava kava, even in short durations and regular dosage amounts. Risks of liver damage are the highest if you take the herb for longer than three months, cautions the University of Michigan Health System. Because of these liver damage risks, you should take kava kava only under the supervision of a physician. If you have liver problems, consume excessive amounts of alcohol or take certain medications that may harm your liver, you shouldn't take kava kava, the University of Pittsburgh warns. Beware that case reports do exist of otherwise healthy people with no previous liver disease experiencing liver failure from taking kava kava, however. The United Kingdom has pulled products containing kava kava from stores, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises consulting a physician before taking the herb, especially if you have liver problems or take medications that can affect your liver.
Skin Side Effects
You may experience certain side effects relating to your skin and face, particularly if you take kava kava for a longer time period. If you take kava kava for more than three months, you may develop a scaly rash or facial swelling, says the University of Michigan Health System. Taking a low dose of kava kava for seven weeks resulted in only a 1.5 percent rate of side effects, which included allergic rashes and gastrointestinal problems, according to a study of more than 4,000 people. Another study of more than 3,000 people found that taking the equivalent of 240 mg of kavalactones daily over the course of one month produced similar side effects in only 2.3 percent of the individuals, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Prescription Drug Interactions
Beware of certain negative interactions of taking kava kava while taking certain prescription medications. Because of the herb's sedativelike effects, kava kava may interact with psychotropic medications like antidepressants and mood stabilizers, as well as drugs used to treat certain mental disorders, cautions the University of Michigan Health System. If you taken any of these medications, you shouldn't take kava kava because the herb can amplify the effects of the drugs. Also, don't take kava kava if you take benzodiazepines or other drugs for treating insomnia and anxiety, or medications for treating Parkinson's disease like levodopa, because the herb can reduce the drugs' effectiveness, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You should also avoid taking kava kava with any medications that might irritate or harm your liver.
Muscle Spasms
Taking medications and herbs that affect dopamine levels in your nervous system can cause muscle spasms, particularly in the neck, as well as irregular eye movements. This is called acute dystonic reaction, which is a potential side effect of taking certain anti-psychotic drugs that impact dopamine levels, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Because kava kava can have similar effects on dopamine, you could potentially have a dystonic reaction. Also, combining kava kava with anti-psychotic medications can greatly increase the risk of this type of reaction.
Impaired Mental Ability
If you take high doses of kava kava, you might experience some mental cloudiness or effects similar to inebriation, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Because of its sedative effects, taking kava kava can affect your reaction speed, potentially impairing your ability to drive or operate machinery, warns the University of Michigan Health System.
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