Ibogaine-associated cardiac arrest and death: case report and review of the literature.
Jessica A Meisner, Susan R Wilcox, Jeremy B Richards
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology April 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1177/2045125315626073 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 40-year-old man using ibogaine for heroin withdrawal |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Medication effects Ibogaine adverse effects Ibogaine complications Ibogaine side effects Ibogaine toxicity Cardiac arrest cardiotoxicity Sudden cardiac death Cardiovascular complications Heart failure Pharmaceutical safety Drug adverse events Medication adverse effects Pharmacovigilance Addiction treatment Substance abuse treatment |
| Citations | 19 |
| Key findings | Ibogaine use for opioid withdrawal can cause cardiac arrest and death. |
Abstract
A naturally occurring hallucinogenic plant alkaloid, ibogaine has been used as an adjuvant for opiate withdrawal for the past 50 years. In the setting of an escalating nationwide opiate epidemic, use of substances such as ibogaine may also increase. Therefore, familiarity with the mechanisms and potential adverse effects of ibogaine is important for clinicians. We present the case report of a man whose use of ibogaine resulted in cardiac arrest and death, complemented by a review of the literature regarding ibogaine's clinical effects. A 40-year-old man who used ibogaine for symptoms of heroin withdrawal suffered acute cardiac arrest leading to cerebral edema and brain death. His presentation was consistent with ibogaine-induced cardiotoxicity and ibogaine-induced cardiac arrest, and a review of the literature regarding the history, mechanisms, risks and clinical outcomes associated with ibogaine is presented. The case presented underscores the significant potential clinical risks of ibogaine. It is important the healthcare community be aware of the possible effects of ibogaine such that clinicians can provide informed counseling to their patients regarding the risks of attempting detoxification with ibogaine.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment of acute opioid withdrawal with ibogaine. Patients undergoing opioid detoxification with ibogaine in non-medical settings | 1999 | Case series | n = 33 |
| A preliminary investigation of ibogaine: case reports and recommendations for further study. Individuals addicted to opiates | 1994 | Case series | n = 7 |
| Long-QT Syndrome Induced by the Antiaddiction Drug Ibogaine A 31-year-old woman | 2009 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Distribution of ibogaine and noribogaine in a man following a poisoning involving root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub. 48-year-old Caucasian male with a history of drug abuse who died after ingesting... | 2006 | Case study | n = 1 |
| A case report SPECT study and theoretical rationale for the sequential administration of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. 31-year-old male military veteran with moderate alcohol use disorder | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 17
- Ibogaine as a treatment for substance misuse: Potential benefits and practical dangers. Progress in Brain Research 2018
- The adverse events of ibogaine in humans: an updated systematic review of the literature (2015-2020). Psychopharmacology June 1, 2022
- The antiaddictive effects of ibogaine: A systematic literature review of human studies Journal of Psychedelic Studies April 1, 2017
- Ibogaine/Noribogaine in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: ASystematic Review of the Current Literature Current Neuropharmacology October 20, 2022
- Ibogaine for treating drug dependence. What is a safe dose? Drug and Alcohol Dependence September 1, 2016
and 12 more in the library
Cites 13
- Treatment of acute opioid withdrawal with ibogaine. American Journal on Addictions 1999
- Effects and aftereffects of ibogaine on morphine self-administration in rats. European Journal of Pharmacology April 3, 1991
- Effects of iboga alkaloids on morphine and cocaine self-administration in rats: relationship to tremorigenic effects and to effects on dopamine release in nucleus accumbens and striatum. Brain Research September 19, 1994
- The ibogaine medical subculture. Journal of Ethnopharmacology January 4, 2008
- Ibogaine in the treatment of substance dependence. Current Drug Abuse Reviews March 1, 2013
and 8 more in the library