Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound derived from the shrub Tabernanthe iboga. As the global opioid crisis continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives, it has emerged as a potential solution for opioid dependence due to its promising anti-addictive properties. However, its effectiveness remains largely unproven.
This article will answer the main questions surrounding this plant-based substance, including:
- What is ibogaine?
- Is ibogaine safe and legal in the USA?
- What is ibogaine used for?
- Can this substance cure opioid dependence?
What Is Ibogaine?
Ibogaine is a psychoactive indole alkaloid that occurs naturally in the leaves, stems, and root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, a shrub native to West Africa. It has deep roots in African spiritual traditions, particularly Bwiti, and has been used for healing, spiritual ceremonies, and initiation rituals for centuries.
Traditionally, ibogaine is consumed by chewing the root bark of the plant. It can also be prepared as a tea or taken as a powder in the form of capsules, tinctures, or tablets.
Since the 1960s, ibogaine has been used experimentally to treat substance use disorders (SUDs), and especially opioid use disorder (OUD). Its anti-addictive properties were discovered in 1962 by Howard Lotsof, an American scientific researcher. He dedicated his life to promoting ibogaine for addiction treatment after it helped him overcome heroin addiction at 19 years old.
Nonetheless, ibogaine treatment for opioid addiction has never been approved by the FDA. Today, however, ibogaine is illegal in many countries, including France, where it was once marketed under the brand Lambarène as a mental and physical stimulant. Still, it was withdrawn from the French market in 1966 due to safety concerns related to neurotoxicity and cardiac complications..
Since you now know what ibogaine is, it’s time to find out how it works.
How Does Ibogaine Work?
Ibogaine works as a stimulant at low doses and a hallucinogen at high doses. In other words, taking a small amount of it, it can make you more alert and energetic. However, larger amounts can cause hallucinations and other psychedelic experiences.
How exactly ibogaine works isn’t fully understood, but it appears to interact with several neurotransmitter systems in the brain. More specifically, it affects glutamate, serotonin, and dopamine pathways. It is also thought to act on opioid receptors.
Unlike traditional approaches, such as opioid detox or medication-assisted treatment (MAT), ibogaine is thought to reset the brain to its pre-addiction state. Although anecdotal reports attest that it can relieve opioid withdrawal symptoms, including cravings, its effectiveness in opioid addiction treatment lacks scientific evidence.
Ibogaine Side Effects
Some side effects of ibogaine may include:
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Hallucinations
- Trouble breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
When taken in large doses, ibogaine can cause ataxia (impaired muscle coordination), seizures, paralysis, cardiac arrest, and other potentially life-threatening adverse effects. Some people also experience manic episodes that last a week or two and manifest as:
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Impulsivity
- Aggression
- Suicidal ideation
- Grandiose delusions
- Intense mood swings
Importantly, the side effect profile of ibogaine isn’t well understood due to the lack of research. This is one of the reasons why ibogaine therapy for opioid dependence isn’t safe.
Now that we have defined what ibogaine is and how it works, let’s discuss its legal status in greater detail.
Is Ibogaine Safe and Legal in the USA?
Ibogaine is not legal in the United States, and using it isn’t safe. In some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Uruguay, the possession of ibogaine is legal. However, this isn’t the case in the U.S., where it is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it has no approved medical uses and cannot be legally obtained.
Although some people use ibogaine when trying to get rid of opioid dependence, this psychoactive substance comes with considerable risks. Those with co-occurring medical conditions may face an even higher risk of severe adverse effects, such as ibogaine-associated cardiac arrest. Even worse, there have been cases of death associated with this substance.
A study by John Martin Corkery from the University of Hertfordshire explored the potential benefits and dangers of ibogaine and examined 33 cases of ibogaine-related deaths.
It suggests that 18-MC, a congener of ibogaine, may be a safer option, though it has yet to undergo clinical trials. Until then, consumers and treatment providers should make detailed risk assessments before initiating plant-based addiction therapy with ibogaine.
Taking ibogaine on its own isn’t safe, but combining it with other substances is even more dangerous, especially because its drug interactions aren’t well-known. Therefore, such polysubstance use can have unpredictable and even deadly consequences. Never mix it with opioids, as this may increase the risk of an opioid overdose.
Why Some Choose Ibogaine for Opioid Addiction Treatment
People may choose ibogaine for opioid addiction treatment for various reasons. Some expect it to be a miracle drug after hearing anecdotal reports, others see it as a last resort after relapsing with traditional approaches, and still others simply find the idea of natural addiction treatment appealing.
Although the success rate of ibogaine treatment remains unknown due to a lack of clinical trials, there’s no shortage of ibogaine success stories online. Many of these claim it cures opioid dependence nearly instantaneously. There are even some studies that support these claims, such as one conducted by researchers from the University of Otago.
This study found that a single ibogaine treatment provides relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms and reduces or stops opioid use in opioid-dependent individuals. While this sounds phenomenal, one patient enrolled in the study died. This study reinforces that ibogaine isn’t safe, even if it can help some people put an end to opioid abuse and dependence.
Myths About Ibogaine as an Effective Solution to OUD
Given that ibogaine hasn’t been well-studied yet, its capability to treat OUD is surrounded by myths. For example, some people claim it can cure opioid addiction after a single use, even though its effectiveness is yet to be proven, and it may vary individually.
Another common myth is that ibogaine treatment is safe, which is simply not the case. It can cause serious side effects, some of which are life-threatening.
Additionally, it’s not regulated or standardized, which means there is no standard protocol for its use in OUD treatment. As such, ibogaine may be administered in improper doses, by unqualified specialists, or in unsafe environments, making it even more dangerous.
If you’re looking for alternative treatments for opioid dependence, know that ibogaine isn’t your only option, and it certainly isn’t the safest. Even if you use it once, you’re taking a gamble on your life and health.
This doesn’t mean that you have no other choice but to spend months in rehab or rely on opioid-replacement drugs, such as Suboxone, for years to come.
Traditional methods, be they rapid detox or MAT, are outdated; they only manage the symptoms of opioid dependence, and they don’t reverse the damage opioids cause to the nervous system. As such, they often lead to relapse.
Instead of seeking out ibogaine or other experimental methods, consider undergoing Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR), a groundbreaking treatment developed by Dr. Andre Waismann.
Key Takeaways
Although ibogaine has shown promise in treating opioid dependence, its safety and effectiveness are yet to be proven scientifically. As such, it’s in your best interest to seek alternative treatments for opioid dependence.
Here’s a brief overview of the key points we covered in this article:
- Ibogaine is a psychoactive alkaloid that produces stimulant or hallucinogenic effects, depending on the dose.
- Ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, meaning you cannot obtain it legally.
What Is Ibogaine FAQ
What exactly ibogaine does to the brain, and especially its long-term effects on the brain, isn’t fully understood. However, it seems to interact with multiple neurotransmitter systems simultaneously, producing stimulation at lower doses and hallucinogenic effects at higher ones.
Ibogaine doesn’t seem to be addictive, although there’s limited research on its potential for addiction. On the contrary, it is considered to have anti-addictive properties that have stirred people’s interest in it. Nonetheless, ibogaine treatment remains unapproved by the FDA, and undergoing it poses serious risks.
The risks of ibogaine therapy include seizures, paralysis, ataxia, cardiac arrest, and death, among other adverse effects. People with pre-existing health conditions, especially cardiovascular ones, may face an elevated risk of severe side effects. Keep in mind that your insurance may not cover the medical costs to treat complications occurring after this treatment.
