Thirty Years of Ibogaine Research
E. Kervadec, Aurore Bezo, Raphaël Serreau, Lana Strika-bruneau, Baptiste Fauvel, Ammar Amirouche, Amine Benyamina, Bruno Roméo
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology June 1, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000002197 via OpenAlex
Summary
Ibogaine has been studied for its potential benefits in treating substance use and psychiatric disorders, but current evidence is insufficient to support its clinical use. A review of 24 studies and 38 case reports found that while some observational data suggest ibogaine may help with opioid use disorder (OUD) and PTSD, no double-blind randomized controlled trials have confirmed its effectiveness for OUD. Serious adverse effects, particularly cardiotoxicity, have also been reported.
Study at a glance
| Design | narrative review |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 62 |
| Population | studies on ibogaine's clinical use in humans |
| Key finding | No double-blind RCT has demonstrated that ibogaine or noribogaine can effectively treat opioid use disorder. |
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ibogaine has garnered interest for its potential therapeutic properties in substance use and psychiatric disorders. Unlike classic psychedelics such as psilocybin or LSD, ibogaine remains underexplored in clinical research. This review aimed to synthesize the clinical literature on ibogaine use in humans over the past 3 decades, focusing on outcomes and safety. METHODS: We conducted a narrative review of studies on ibogaine's clinical use published from 1990 to February 2025, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), open-label, retrospective, and observational studies. Databases were searched for reports on efficacy and safety across various indications. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies and 38 case reports/series were included. Most of the positive efficacy data come from uncontrolled, open-label, or retrospective studies, many conducted in nonclinical settings, with a high risk of bias. No double-blind RCT to date has demonstrated that ibogaine or noribogaine can effectively treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Only 1 small RCT reported significant effects for cocaine use disorder. Although observational data suggest that ibogaine may alleviate symptoms of OUD, PTSD, or polysubstance dependence, these findings remain exploratory. Moreover, serious ibogaine-related adverse events have been reported, especially cardiotoxicity due to QT prolongation, which represents a considerable risk given the currently unproven efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: While ibogaine remains a compound of interest for neuropsychiatric research, current evidence is insufficient to support its clinical use. Further studies are needed to better demonstrate ibogaine's efficacy, optimize its safety profile, and determine how it could be integrated into psychiatric care, especially in relation to the emerging therapeutic use of classic psychedelics.