Ibogaine for the treatment of Parkinson's disease: A case report

A 52-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease who was becoming less responsive to standard treatment took daily low doses of ibogaine hydrochloride (up to 75 mg) for 80 days. After treatment, she showed substantial improvements in motor symptoms, quality of life, fatigue, and depression, as measured by validated clinical scales. However, her sleep quality declined, possibly due to ibogaine's stimulant effects. She also reported fewer freezing episodes, better mobility, more energy, and greater optimism. No adverse events occurred. This first case study using validated instruments suggests ibogaine may alleviate Parkinson's symptoms, but larger controlled trials are needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impairs quality of life, and current treatments do not halt dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Evidence suggests that ibogaine, a naturally occurring indole alkaloid, may stimulate glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression and affect dopamine transporter (DAT) function. This case study reports the effects of low-dose ibogaine hydrochloride on PD symptoms. Methods A 52-year-old female PD patient, decreasingly responsive to conventional therapy, underwent an 80-day treatment with gradually titrated daily doses of ibogaine hydrochloride (max 75 mg/day). Standardized assessments were conducted pre- and post-treatment using validated PD-specific clinical instruments; Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39), Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS-2), Parkinson's Disease Fatigue Scale-16 (PFS-16) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), alongside a qualitative interview. Results Substantial improvements were observed in four of five assessment domains: motor symptoms (UPDRS), quality of life (PDQ-39), fatigue (PFS-16), and depression (BDI-II). Sleep quality (PDSS-2) declined, potentially due to ibogaine's stimulant properties. The patient reported reduced freezing of gait episodes, enhanced mobility, energy and mood, as well as an overall increased optimism. No adverse events were recorded. Conclusion This is the first known case study to use validated instruments to document symptomatic improvements in a PD patient following low-dose ibogaine treatment. While preliminary, these findings support the hypothesis that ibogaine may alleviate PD symptoms through neurotrophic, pharmacochaperone, and DAT-modulating mechanisms. Larger controlled trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy and clarify its mechanisms of action in PD.