Ibogaine as a treatment for substance misuse: Potential benefits and practical dangers.

Ibogaine, a hallucinogenic alkaloid from the Iboga shrub, has been used for centuries in West African religious ceremonies for spiritual enlightenment. Since the 1960s, it has been used in detoxification treatments to reduce cravings for substances like alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and nicotine, often in non-medical settings without robust clinical trials. This chapter overviews potential benefits of such research while highlighting serious adverse effects from undiagnosed conditions or concurrent drug use. It updates the 33 known deaths globally, including 5 in the UK. A safer congener, 18-MC, is undergoing clinical trials. The chapter calls for better opiate detoxification treatments amid rising opioid fatalities and urges careful risk assessments, accurate recording of outcomes, and publication of deaths.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid found in the root bark of the Iboga shrub native to west Africa possessing hallucinogenic properties. For centuries it has been used in religious ceremonies and to gain spiritual enlightenment. However, since the early 1960s, its apparent ability to reduce craving for psychoactive substances including alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and nicotine has led to its use in detoxification treatments. In many instances, clients receive treatment in non-medical settings, with little by way of robust scientific clinical trials. This chapter provides an overview of the potential benefits that could arise from such research. This is balanced against the serious adverse effects that can occur due to undiagnosed health conditions and/or concomitant use of other drugs. A detailed update is provided of the 33 deaths known to have occurred, including 5 in the UK. Looking forward, there is a need to develop better opiate detoxification treatment against a background of increasing opioid-related fatalities. A congener of ibogaine, 18-MC, appears to be safer and is to undergo clinical trials. In the meantime, would-be consumers and treatment providers must make more careful, detailed risk-assessments before using ibogaine. Treatment outcomes, including deaths, need to be accurately recorded and published.