Ibogaine related sudden death: a case report.
Stavroula A Papadodima, Artemis Dona, Christos I Evaggelakos, Nikolaos Goutas, Sotirios A Athanaselis
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine October 1, 2013 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2013.06.032 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A man who died suddenly after ibogaine use for alcohol detoxification |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Cardiac death Ibogaine risks: ibogaine Anti-addiction compound Alternative medicine Alcohol detoxification Health risks Sudden death Heart-related death Fatality Autopsy findings: autopsy Post-mortem examination Medical report Pre-existing conditions Medication risks Compound dangers Health warnings Treatment risks |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | A man died suddenly 12-24 hours after ibogaine use for alcohol detoxification, with autopsy findings of liver cirrhosis, heavy fatty infiltration, and an ibogaine concentration of 2 mg/l. |
Abstract
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring alkaloid derived from the roots of the rain forest shrub Tabernanthe iboga. Deaths have occurred temporarily related to the use of ibogaine. However, although not licensed as therapeutic drug, and despite evidence that ibogaine may disturb the rhythm of the heart, this alkaloid is currently used as an anti-addiction drug in alternative medicine for detoxification purposes. We report the case of a man who died suddenly 12-24 h after ibogaine use for alcohol detoxification treatment. In the autopsy liver cirrhosis and heavy fatty infiltration was found. The concentration of ibogaine was 2 mg/l. The potential risks of ibogaine use, especially for persons with pathological medical background, are discussed.
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
- Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology August 1, 2016
- The Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine and the Heart: A Delicate Relation Molecules January 29, 2015
- How toxic is ibogaine? Clinical Toxicology 2016
- Ibogaine as a treatment for substance misuse: Potential benefits and practical dangers. Progress in Brain Research 2018
- The Iboga Alkaloids. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products 2017
and 12 more in the library
Cites 6
- The ibogaine medical subculture. Journal of Ethnopharmacology January 4, 2008
- Medication Development of Ibogaine as a Pharmacotherapy for Drug Dependencea. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences May 1, 1998
- Fatalities temporally associated with the ingestion of ibogaine. Journal of Forensic Sciences March 1, 2012
- Development of novel medications for drug addiction. The legacy of an African shrub. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2000
- Anti-addiction drug ibogaine inhibits hERG channels: a cardiac arrhythmia risk. Addiction Biology March 1, 2014
and 1 more in the library