What to Know About Ibogaine Use

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesEffectsIbogaine May Treat AddictionRisks and Issues to Consider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Uses

Effects

Ibogaine May Treat Addiction

Risks and Issues to Consider

Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid derived from the root of theTabernanthe ibogashrub. It is also found in theVoacanga africanatree. A West African plant, this shrub is popularly available in Gabon, Zaire, and Cameroon. In these locations, the alkaloid is ingested for ceremonial and medicinal uses.

Western countries like France have administered this alkaloid to manage weak or paralyzed muscles. However, ibogaine is gaining widespread popularity for its anti-addictive properties.

In the 1960s, people dealing with heroin addiction and using medication to self-treat reported that this plant eliminates the signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Early research data and anecdotal evidence point to possibilities of the ibogaine plant managing illnesses like cocaine use disorder and other substance use disorders.

However, this drug hasn’t gained widespread acceptance. In fact, there are strong concerns about the safety of its use. In this guide, we’ll be examining the believed effects of this plant, worries about reactions to its use, plus the latest studies on outcomes of ibogaine treatment for addiction.

Important Information to Know About IbogaineWhile ibogaine shows potential for managing different substance use disorders, it is not an approved treatment.Ibogaine is a controlled substance in the U.S., so its use for any purpose is illegal.

Important Information to Know About Ibogaine

While ibogaine shows potential for managing different substance use disorders, it is not an approved treatment.Ibogaine is a controlled substance in the U.S., so its use for any purpose is illegal.

Uses of Ibogaine

In particular West African societies, this alkaloid is a major component of everyday life. Around 2.3 million people of the Bwiti spiritual discipline in Gabon ingest large doses of this plant for ritual rites.

The Bwiti initiation ritual—also observed in Cameroon—requires this plant for the rebirth ceremony used to signal passage into the teenage years.

Ibogaine has specific hallucinogenic and dream-like effects on the mind. However, it is not as widely used as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms,peyote, and other psychedelics.In small doses, this alkaloid has also been noted to have an aphrodisiac effect on users.

In the U.S, the anti-addictive properties of this drug were largely unknown until 1962. In 1970, it was classified as a Schedule 1 drug for having no medical use and a high risk for abuse.

Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Effects of Ibogaine

Ibogaine produces long-lasting psychedelic and dissociative effects. When ingested, the alkaloid interacts with different sites in the central nervous system. These sites include the dopaminergic, serotonergic, nicotinic, GABA, and muscarinic receptors.

After ibogaine is consumed, its psychedelic effects will usually take place within a number of hours.

These effects are divided into three phases:

What Are Psychedelic Drugs?

While the exact mechanism for ibogaine’s anti-addictive effects remains unclear, early research suggests that it influences receptors in the body.

In studies carried out on animals, this alkaloid, together with its metabolite—noribogaine, binds tocentral nervous systemtargets such as nicotinic receptors, opioid receptors, plus dopamine and serotonin transporters.

A 2017 studyrequired 30 participants withopioid dependenceto receive approximately 12 mg/kg of ibogaine. Outcomes were evaluated 12 months later. One month after treatment, half of the participants reported no opioid use.

Three months after treatment, 10 participants reported no opioid use. After six months, six participants reported sustained avoidance of opioids. By nine months, 11 participants claimed to have kept away from opioids. At month 12, seven participants successfully avoided opioid use.

While this plant is not an approved treatment forsubstance use disorder, single large doses of ibogaine have been shown to block withdrawal symptoms and cravings in people who are dependent on drugs.

It has been reported to reduce cravings for opioids and is also a suggested mood booster after treatment.Ibogaine is suggested to have a low potential foraddiction.

It is important to recognize that lifestyle changes are important for long-lasting recovery. Ibogaine can give an individual time to work on building new habits and changing their life. If this is not done, however, there is an increased chance they will relapse.

It is important to note that ibogaine’s effects have not yet been tested in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.Much of the research has involved anecdotal reports and open-label studies. In an open-label study, participants know the type of treatment they are receiving.

More research is needed to understand better how ibogaine may be useful in the treatment of addiction.

Other effects include irregular heartbeats and QT-interval prolongation, where heart muscles take longer periods to contract and relax.

What to Expect From Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mash DC, Duque L, Page B, Allen-Ferdinand K.Ibogaine detoxification transitions opioid and cocaine abusers between dependence and abstinence: Clinical observations and treatment outcomes.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:529. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00529Köck P, Frölich K, Walter M, Lang U, Dürsteler KM.A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine[published online ahead of print, 2021 Dec 30].J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021;108717. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108717Time.Inside ibogaine, one of the most promising and perilous psychedelics for addiction.​Richer E.Ibogaine and the treatment of opiate addiction.Complementary and Alternative Therapies and the Aging Population. 2009:393-401. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374228-5.00019-6Graziano S, Orsolini L, Rotolo MC, Tittarelli R, Schifano F, Pichini S.Herbal highs: Review on psychoactive effects and neuropharmacology.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017;15(5):750-761. doi:10.2174/1570159X14666161031144427Marton S, González B, Rodríguez-Bottero S, et al.Ibogaine administration modifies GDNF and BDNF expression in brain regions involved in mesocorticolimbic and nigral dopaminergic circuits.Front Pharmacol. 2019;10:193. doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.00193Brown TK, Alper K.Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):24-36. doi:10.1080/00952990.2017.1320802Cameron LP, Tombari RJ, Lu J, et al.A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential.Nature. 2021;589(7842):474-479. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-3008-z

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mash DC, Duque L, Page B, Allen-Ferdinand K.Ibogaine detoxification transitions opioid and cocaine abusers between dependence and abstinence: Clinical observations and treatment outcomes.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:529. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00529Köck P, Frölich K, Walter M, Lang U, Dürsteler KM.A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine[published online ahead of print, 2021 Dec 30].J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021;108717. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108717Time.Inside ibogaine, one of the most promising and perilous psychedelics for addiction.​Richer E.Ibogaine and the treatment of opiate addiction.Complementary and Alternative Therapies and the Aging Population. 2009:393-401. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374228-5.00019-6Graziano S, Orsolini L, Rotolo MC, Tittarelli R, Schifano F, Pichini S.Herbal highs: Review on psychoactive effects and neuropharmacology.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017;15(5):750-761. doi:10.2174/1570159X14666161031144427Marton S, González B, Rodríguez-Bottero S, et al.Ibogaine administration modifies GDNF and BDNF expression in brain regions involved in mesocorticolimbic and nigral dopaminergic circuits.Front Pharmacol. 2019;10:193. doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.00193Brown TK, Alper K.Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):24-36. doi:10.1080/00952990.2017.1320802Cameron LP, Tombari RJ, Lu J, et al.A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential.Nature. 2021;589(7842):474-479. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-3008-z

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Mash DC, Duque L, Page B, Allen-Ferdinand K.Ibogaine detoxification transitions opioid and cocaine abusers between dependence and abstinence: Clinical observations and treatment outcomes.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:529. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00529Köck P, Frölich K, Walter M, Lang U, Dürsteler KM.A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine[published online ahead of print, 2021 Dec 30].J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021;108717. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108717Time.Inside ibogaine, one of the most promising and perilous psychedelics for addiction.​Richer E.Ibogaine and the treatment of opiate addiction.Complementary and Alternative Therapies and the Aging Population. 2009:393-401. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374228-5.00019-6Graziano S, Orsolini L, Rotolo MC, Tittarelli R, Schifano F, Pichini S.Herbal highs: Review on psychoactive effects and neuropharmacology.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017;15(5):750-761. doi:10.2174/1570159X14666161031144427Marton S, González B, Rodríguez-Bottero S, et al.Ibogaine administration modifies GDNF and BDNF expression in brain regions involved in mesocorticolimbic and nigral dopaminergic circuits.Front Pharmacol. 2019;10:193. doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.00193Brown TK, Alper K.Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):24-36. doi:10.1080/00952990.2017.1320802Cameron LP, Tombari RJ, Lu J, et al.A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential.Nature. 2021;589(7842):474-479. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-3008-z

Mash DC, Duque L, Page B, Allen-Ferdinand K.Ibogaine detoxification transitions opioid and cocaine abusers between dependence and abstinence: Clinical observations and treatment outcomes.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:529. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00529

Köck P, Frölich K, Walter M, Lang U, Dürsteler KM.A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine[published online ahead of print, 2021 Dec 30].J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021;108717. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108717

Time.Inside ibogaine, one of the most promising and perilous psychedelics for addiction.

​Richer E.Ibogaine and the treatment of opiate addiction.Complementary and Alternative Therapies and the Aging Population. 2009:393-401. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374228-5.00019-6

Graziano S, Orsolini L, Rotolo MC, Tittarelli R, Schifano F, Pichini S.Herbal highs: Review on psychoactive effects and neuropharmacology.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017;15(5):750-761. doi:10.2174/1570159X14666161031144427

Marton S, González B, Rodríguez-Bottero S, et al.Ibogaine administration modifies GDNF and BDNF expression in brain regions involved in mesocorticolimbic and nigral dopaminergic circuits.Front Pharmacol. 2019;10:193. doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.00193

Brown TK, Alper K.Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):24-36. doi:10.1080/00952990.2017.1320802

Cameron LP, Tombari RJ, Lu J, et al.A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential.Nature. 2021;589(7842):474-479. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-3008-z

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