Ibogaine fails to interrupt the expression of a previously established one-trial morphine place preference.

Ibogaine, a proposed anti-addictive agent, does not reduce the expression of a previously established morphine-induced place preference in rats. Single injections of 40 mg/kg ibogaine given 24, 12, or 4 hours before testing, or 80 mg/kg given 24 hours before, failed to interfere with the conditioned preference. Two injections of 40 mg/kg at intervals of 48 and 24 hours or 24 and 4 hours before testing also had no effect. Ibogaine appears incapable of attenuating the expression of a one-trial morphine place preference once it has been established.

Study at a glance

Abstract

1. Ibogaine, a proposed anti-addictive agent, has been found to interfere with the acquisition of a weak morphine-induced place preference. The present series of experiments determined if ibogaine would interfere with the expression of a previously established morphine (5 mg/kg) place preference. 2. A single injection of 40 mg/kg of ibogaine 24 h, 12 h or 4 h prior to the preference test (Experiment 1) or 80 mg/kg of ibogaine 24 hr prior to the preference test (Experiment 3) did not interfere with the expression of a morphine conditioned place preference. 3. Furthermore, two injections of 40 mg/kg of ibogaine 48 h and 24 h or 24 h and 4 h prior to testing (Experiment 2) did not interfere with the expression of a morphine place preference. 4. Ibogaine appears to be incapable of attenuating the expression of a previously established one-trial morphine place preference.