Ibogaine

Presented by Rachel Jordan

What is Ibogaine?

• A naturally occurring psychoactive plant alkaloid

• It is sourced from the roots of the plant Tabernanthe Iboga that grows in the forests of West Africa

Tabernanthe Iboga plant

Ibogaine’s History

• Traditionally used for thousands of years as a catalyst for spiritual exploration and healing by the African Bwiti culture.

Ibogaine’s History

• Howard S. Lotsof first discovered Ibogaine’s ability to disrupt chemical dependency in 1962-63

• Ever since, he has been researching everything about it and advocating for it’s use in treating addiction

• As of March 2007, 12 people out of 3611 died in relation to Ibogaine treatment but also in relation to other factors

• Has been used to treat chemical dependence for over 40 years and has a 65% abstinence rate over 10% with conventional drug treatment programs

• No potential for abuse

Ibogaine’s action

• Has been shown to bind with multiple neurotransmitter sites within the CNS• Increases serotonin and decreases/blocks dopamine• Has been shown to act both as an antagonist and an agonist as well as directly and indirectly

Ibogaine’s Effects

Works in two ways:• Reduction of withdrawal symptoms & cravings

& sustained periods of abstinence or reduced use

• Produces a subjective experience where the person may undergo processes where their life & choices are examined & reassessed

Forms and Dosage

• Botanical root bark• Total alkaloid extract• Purified Ibogaine HCl (99.4% purity)• Doses are determined on an individual patient

basis and are based on kg as well as addiction severity. Normal dosing is usually 15-20mg/kg for full therapeutic effect

• Cost is roughly $4700-$4900 for 5 day treatment program on Vancouver Island

Ibogaine Administration

• An oral capsule• Takes approx. 45 minutes to take effect &

decrease withdrawal symptoms• Should be taken in place of next narcotic dose • Blood pressure & pulse should be checked

every 30 min for first 4-8 hours & then if stable, every hour thereafter

• Effects occur in 3 stages and can last up to 36 hours

First Stage

• Patient will usually want to lay prone & still as may experience motion related N&V

• Skin tends to become numb• May hear an initial buzzing or oscillating sound• A period of dream-like visualization may last for 3 to 4

hours & ends abruptly should it occur at all• May experience random flashes of light that appear

everywhere with eyes open & may last for hours or days. Visualization on the other hand is most common with eyes closed.

Second stage

• Follows visualization & has been described as one in which the patient principally experiences cognitive evaluation or a review of issues that are important to them

• They may cover every possible scenario from early childhood experiences to current health issues & may last for as few as 8 hours or for 20 hours or longer.

Third Stage

• Also known as Residual Stimulation stage• It tends to leave the patient exhausted &

therefore is somewhat uncomfortable• May remain awake for two or more days but

most patients will sleep within 24-48 hours of Ibogaine administration

• Usually, there is a long term diminishment of the need for sleep over weeks or months

• Some patients may require or request sedation

Side Effects

• Coordination disturbances (unstable gait and tendency to fall)

• Hallucination-like experiences • Sleep disturbances• Concentration & speech troubles• Heart rate & blood pressure changes• Nausea & vomiting• Dizziness • Light sensitivity• Tiredness• Muscles soreness

Post Ibogaine Treatment Therapy

• Patients are encouraged to attend NA or AA meetings for further support

• Many are encouraged to have supports &/or resources in place before detox-ing

• Other additional treatment therapies

Contraindications

• History of heart attacks or cardiovascular disease/abnormalities

• Concurrent opiate/stimulant drug use• Active psychological or neurological disorders• Beck Depression Inventory score > 24 • Active TB or pregnancy• Impaired kidney, liver or GI function • Concurrent drugs that may cause adverse

ibogaine/drug interactions

PHN Role

• Know use/effects of Ibogaine in case a client inquires about it or presents themselves on it

• Advocate for its use/funding in addictions treatment through a harm reduction, health promotion perspective

• Educate the public and patients on benefits & risks of Ibogaine compared to conventional treatments so they can make the best choice possible & can advocate for themselves & others

• Know difference b/w opioid withdrawal & Ibogaine’s effects

Q & A !!

• Where does Ibogaine originate from?• Who qualifies for Ibogaine treatment?• How long does the therapy typically last?• What are the two main ways that Ibogaine works

on treating chemical dependence?• How many different forms are there?• How is it typically taken?• What should a nurse do while taking care of a

person on Ibogaine?

References• Ibogaine Association. (2006). Retrieved February 27, 2008 from

http://www.ibogaine-therapy.net/• Ibogaine Research Project. (2005). Retrieved February 27, 2008 from

http://www.ibogaine-research.org/Ibogaine-Research-Project/Ibogaine.html• Ibogaine Roots of Hope: CBS. Retrived from Veoh videos and internet

television at http://www.veoh.com/videos/v927524wxpsC5nk • Ibogaine Therapy House. (2008). Retrieved February 27, 2008 from

http://www.ibogatherapyhouse.net/cms/content/view/22/37/• Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. (2007). Ibogaine studies

and research projects. Retrieved February 27, 2008 from http://www.maps.org/ibogaine/

• Roslin, A. (2007, Oct. 25). THE QUEST FOR THE ULTIMATE CURE FOR ADDICTION. The Georgia Straight. Retrieved February 27th, 2008 from http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1235/a06.html.

• The Ibogaine Dossier. (1999). Retrieved February 27, 2008 from http://www.ibogaine.org/index.html/