Novel treatment of opioid use disorder using ibogaine and iboga in two adults

Ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychedelic medicine, may help treat opioid use disorder by reducing withdrawal symptoms and supporting abstinence. A case series of two individuals who accessed ibogaine through unregulated clinics in Vancouver found that one client achieved total abstinence from all opioids within 5–6 days of starting treatment, experienced no withdrawal symptoms, and remained abstinent for 3 years. The second patient stopped non-medical opioids after the first treatment and used ibogaine to reduce opioid agonist therapy, maintaining abstinence for 2 years. The psychoactive experience may also help realign values and reduce depression, though further studies are needed to establish safety and efficacy.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychedelic medicine with anti-addictive properties. While research on ibogaine is limited, several observational studies have shown ibogaine can mitigate opioid withdrawal, as seen with reductions in clinical and subjective opioid withdrawal scores and reduced drug use severity (Noller, Frampton, & Yazar-Klosinski, 2018; Brown & Alper 2018). Furthermore, the psychoactive experience may help individuals to realign their values, purpose and sense of connection, as seen with post treatment reductions in depression scores (Noller et al., 2018; Mash et al., 2000). Case series This case series describes two cases of individuals accessing ibogaine through private unregulated clinics in the Vancouver area to treat their opioid use disorder. Conclusions In case 1, the client achieved total abstinence from all opioids within 5–6 days of starting ibogaine treatment, did not experience any opioid withdrawal symptoms after ibogaine treatment and maintained abstinence from opioids for 3 years. In case 2, the patient took ibogaine/iboga in multiple treatments over a short period of time (<4 months). The patient stopped all non-medical opioids after the first iboga treatment and then used ibogaine to aid with further dose reductions of her opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and has maintained abstinence from opioids for 2 years. Ibogaine offers a unique and novel therapeutic approach to treating opioid use disorder. Further studies are needed to establish the safety, risks and potential role for ibogaine as a mainstream, evidence-based addiction treatment.