Interactions between ibogaine and cocaine in rats: in vivo microdialysis and motor behavior.
European journal of pharmacology – March 03, 1992
Source: PubMed
Summary
Ibogaine significantly enhanced the effects of cocaine, leading to increased dopamine levels in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. In a study involving animal models, a dose of 40 mg/kg ibogaine administered 19 hours prior to a 20 mg/kg cocaine injection resulted in heightened motor activity. While high doses of cocaine can trigger anxiety and aversion, it remains unclear if ibogaine's enhancement of cocaine’s effects could ultimately reduce addiction potential. Understanding this relationship could inform new addiction treatment strategies.
Abstract
To investigate a possible basis for the proposed anti-addictive property of ibogaine, the effects of an ibogaine (40 mg/kg i.p.) pretreatment on in vivo neurochemical and motor effects induced by cocaine (20 mg/kg i.p.) were studied. Ibogaine, administered 19 h earlier, potentiated the increase in extracellular dopamine levels in striatum and nucleus accumbens as well as the stimulated motor activity induced by cocaine. Although high doses of cocaine can become aversive by producing an anxiogenic reaction, it is unknown whether the potentiation of cocaine's effects by ibogaine would also cause aversion and lead to a decrease in cocaine addiction.