Noribogaine, the main metabolite of the psychedelic ibogaine, promotes wakefulness while reducing slow-wave sleep and blocking REM sleep in rats, according to polysomnographic recordings. This pattern of sleep/wake alterations is similar to that previously reported for ibogaine itself. The findings provide new evidence on how iboga alkaloids act in the brain, suggesting that noribogaine contributes to the sleep-suppressing effects observed after ibogaine administration.
Noribogaine, the main metabolite of the psychedelic ibogaine, promotes wakefulness and reduces slow-wave sleep while completely blocking REM sleep in rats. These sleep-wake alterations mirror those caused by ibogaine itself, suggesting that noribogaine is responsible for the sleep-suppressing effects previously attributed to ibogaine. The findings point to serotonin reuptake inhibition as a likely mechanism underlying the wake-promoting and REM sleep-suppressing actions of both compounds.