A man died twelve hours after ingesting powdered iboga root, a substance taken for its stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. Ibogaine and ibogamine were measured in the powder and the victim's body fluids using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Ibogaine concentrations in blood samples taken at the scene, peripheral blood, urine, and gastric fluid were 0.65, 1.27, 1.7, and 53.5 μg/mL, respectively; the powder contained 7.2% iboga. Diazepam and methadone were also present at therapeutic concentrations. Death was attributed to ingestion of a substantial quantity of iboga combined with methadone and diazepam.
A 27-year-old man with a history of drug addiction died about twelve hours after ingesting powdered iboga root during a detoxification program. The main alkaloids ibogaine and ibogamine were measured in the powder and in biological fluids collected at the scene and during autopsy. Concentrations in peripheral blood taken at the scene, peripheral blood from autopsy, urine, and gastric fluid ranged from 0.65 to 53.5 µg/mL for ibogaine and 0.05 to 4.34 µg/mL for ibogamine. The powder contained 7.2% ibogaine and 0.6% ibogamine. Additional toxicological tests revealed concurrent use of diazepam and methadone, supporting the conclusion that death resulted from a mixed overdose with ibogaine as the primary toxic agent.