Ibogaine, an alkaloid used to treat drug dependence, is illegal in some countries but unregulated in Brazil, where it is combined with psychotherapy. A retrospective analysis of 75 former alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and crack users (72% poly-drug users) found no serious adverse reactions or fatalities. 61% of participants remained abstinent. Those treated with ibogaine once reported a median abstinence of 5.5 months; those treated multiple times, 8.4 months. Both single and multiple treatments resulted in longer abstinence than before the first session. The findings suggest that physician-supervised ibogaine with psychotherapy can facilitate prolonged abstinence without fatalities, indicating it may be a safe and effective treatment for stimulant and other non-opiate drug dependence.
Patients with substance-related disorders who received ibogaine in a treatment program reported intense physical discomfort and a psychologically challenging experience, along with heightened memory retrieval—especially about past drug use—and vivid, dreamlike visions. The experience shared some features with other psychedelics but also differed markedly. The authors propose that ibogaine's subjective effects may function as simulations of threat and danger, drawing on an evolutionary theory of dreaming.
A treatment combining the psychedelic alkaloid ibogaine with cognitive-behavioral therapy led to improvements in craving, personal relationships, quality of life, and self-efficacy among people with substance use disorders, including cocaine dependence. These secondary outcomes were assessed through semi-structured interviews and qualitative content analysis. The findings support the therapeutic potential of ibogaine-assisted psychotherapy for treating substance use disorders, particularly for psychostimulants like cocaine and crack cocaine, for which effective treatments are lacking.