Ibogaine related sudden death: a case report.
Stavroula A Papadodima, Artemis Dona, Christos I Evaggelakos, Nikolaos Goutas, Sotirios A Athanaselis
Journal of forensic and legal medicine October 1, 2013 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2013.06.032 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIbogaine, a naturally occurring alkaloid from the Tabernanthe iboga shrub, is used in alternative medicine for alcohol detoxification despite not being a licensed therapeutic drug and evidence that it may disturb heart rhythm. A man died suddenly 12-24 hours after using ibogaine for alcohol detoxification. Autopsy revealed liver cirrhosis and heavy fatty infiltration, with an ibogaine concentration of 2 mg/l. The case highlights potential risks of ibogaine use, particularly for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A man who died suddenly after ibogaine use for alcohol detoxification |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Cardiac death Ibogaine risks: ibogaine Anti-addiction compound Alternative medicine Alcohol detoxification |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key finding | A man died suddenly 12-24 hours after ibogaine use for alcohol detoxification, with autopsy findings of liver cirrhosis, heavy fatty infiltration, and an ibogaine concentration of 2 mg/l. |
Abstract
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring alkaloid derived from the roots of the rain forest shrub Tabernanthe iboga. Deaths have occurred temporarily related to the use of ibogaine. However, although not licensed as therapeutic drug, and despite evidence that ibogaine may disturb the rhythm of the heart, this alkaloid is currently used as an anti-addiction drug in alternative medicine for detoxification purposes. We report the case of a man who died suddenly 12-24 h after ibogaine use for alcohol detoxification treatment. In the autopsy liver cirrhosis and heavy fatty infiltration was found. The concentration of ibogaine was 2 mg/l. The potential risks of ibogaine use, especially for persons with pathological medical background, are discussed.