Internet-purchased ibogaine toxicity confirmed with serum, urine, and product content levels.
Charles W O'Connell, Roy R Gerona, Matthew W Friesen, Binh T Ly
The American journal of emergency medicine July 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.12.023 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIbogaine, a psychotropic indole alkaloid used in some medical subcultures for its anti-addictive properties, can cause serious health risks including altered mental status, ataxia, gastrointestinal distress, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death. A 33-year-old man overdosed on ibogaine while attempting to quit heroin, experiencing altered consciousness, tremor, ataxia, nausea, vomiting, and transient QT interval prolongation, which resolved as the substance cleared. Ibogaine was confirmed in his urine and serum, with a peak serum concentration of 377 ng/mL. Nonlinear elimination kinetics and the presence of its active metabolite noribogaine were also observed. This case provides serial serum concentrations and product-confirmed ibogaine toxicity with transient QT interval prolongation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 33-year-old man who overdosed on ibogaine |
| Intervention | ibogaine |
| Keywords | Ibogaine toxicity ibogaine Health risks Heart complications Overdose Severe symptoms |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key finding | Ibogaine overdose caused transient QT interval prolongation and other toxic effects that resolved as the substance cleared, with nonlinear elimination kinetics and detection of its active metabolite noribogaine. |
Abstract
Ibogaine, a psychotropic indole alkaloid, is gaining popularity among medical subcultures for its purported anti addictive properties. Its use has been associated with altered mental status, ataxia, gastrointestinal distress, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden and unexplained deaths.Its pharmacokinetics in toxic states is not well understood. Case report:A 33-year-old man overdosed on ibogaine in an attempt to quit his use of heroin. He developed altered state of consciousness, tremor, ataxia,nausea, vomiting, and transient QT interval prolongation, which all remitted as he cleared the substance. Ibogaine was confirmed in his urine and serum with a peak serum concentration of 377 ng/mL. Nonlinear elimination kinetics and a formula match to its active metabolite noriobgaine were observed as well. This case presents the unique description of serial serum concentrations as well as urine and product-confirmed ibogaine toxicity with transient toxin-related QT interval prolongation.