Mania following use of ibogaine: A case series.
The American journal on addictions – April 01, 2015
Source: PubMed
Summary
While ibogaine is explored for addiction treatment, new findings reveal a concerning link. This report details three cases where individuals, without prior bipolar diagnoses, developed mania after using ibogaine, often for self-treatment of opiate dependence. This marks the first documented association of ibogaine with manic episodes, highlighting the importance for clinicians to consider substance use history, including unregulated ibogaine, when assessing new onset mania. Understanding these risks is crucial given the growing interest in this substance.
Abstract
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring hallucinogen with postulated anti-addictive qualities. While illegal domestically, a growing number of individuals have sought it out for treatment of opiate dependence, primarily in poorly regulated overseas clinics. Existing serious adverse events include cardiac and vestibular toxicity, though ours is the first report of mania stemming from its use. To report on a case series of psychiatric emergency room patients whose unregulated use of ibogaine resulted in mania in three patients with no prior diagnosis of bipolar illness. Review and summarize charts of three cases. Relevant literature was also reviewed for discussion. Two cases of reported ibogaine ingestion for self-treatment of addictions, and one for psycho-spiritual experimentation resulted in symptoms consistent with mania. No prior reports of mania were found in the literature, and the literature suggests growing popularity of ibogaine's use. The three cases presented demonstrate a temporal association between ibogaine ingestion and subsequent development of mania. In light of these cases, clinicians faced with a new onset mania may benefit from careful substance use and treatment history, specifically regarding opiates. In the vulnerable and often desperate addiction population, in particular, the number of patients seeking this treatment appears to be growing. We advise clinicians to be prepared for discussing the safety, efficacy, and paucity of good data regarding ibogaine with patients who may be considering its use. (Am J Addict 2015;24:203-205).