Ibogaine treatment in two multiple sclerosis patients led to substantial lesion shrinkage and decreased Apparent Diffusion Coefficient values, suggesting remyelination and reduced inflammation. Both patients showed cortical and subcortical alterations, especially in regions linked to pain and emotional processing. These findings indicate ibogaine may promote neuroplasticity and modulate neurocircuitry involved in MS pathology.
A 53-year-old man with two decades of severe, intractable neuropathic pain from brachial plexus nerve root avulsion due to vehicular trauma was successfully treated with both high-dose inpatient and low-dose outpatient ibogaine. Ibogaine, an indole alkaloid, acts on multiple neurotransmitter systems (NMDA, κ- and µ-opioid, σ2 receptors) and stimulates neurotrophic factors GDNF and BDNF. While promising, the adverse effects of high-dose ibogaine may limit its tolerability to the most refractory cases.