Neurorestorative Properties of Ibogaine: Linking Multi-Receptor Affinities to Remyelination and Metabolic Restoration
Tanya Calvey, Demi Govender, Gavin Owen, Nancy Tumba, Dirk Lang, Bernard Lerer, Dan J Stein, Steven Shoptaw
Acta Neuropsychiatrica February 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2026.10059 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Neuroplasticity Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Remyelination Neuroprotection Central nervous system Pharmacology Opioid Multiple sclerosis |
| Key findings | Ibogaine's multi-receptor actions reduce excitotoxicity, regulate metabolism, and promote neuroplasticity and immunomodulation, facilitating neuronal repair and remyelination in disorders such as opioid use disorder, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. |
Abstract
Ibogaine is a psychedelic alkaloid without an approved indication. Observational clinical research shows linkages between single administration of ibogaine and relief of symptoms of neuropsychiatric conditions including substance use disorder, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Ibogaine has multi-receptor actions, but the neurobiological mechanisms underlying such putative effects is unknown. Here we review and discuss the relevant literature, focusing on remyelination and metabolic restoration. We provide evidence that ibogaine upregulates markers of myelination following opioid administration; that conditions such as opioid use disorder, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury are characterized by white matter pathology; that decreased myelination is related to dysregulated metabolic homeostasis, ischemia and hypoxia which may also play a role in these disorders. We conclude that multi-receptor actions of ibogaine, especially its affinities for the NMDA, kappa opioid and sigma receptors, in turn account for reduction in excitotoxicity, metabolic regulation, lasting neuroplasticity and immunomodulation that facilitates neuronal repair and remyelination providing a rationale for future investigation of its use as a therapeutic agent for these common central nervous system disorders.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelics as medicines for substance abuse rehabilitation: evaluating treatments with LSD, Peyote, Ibogaine and Ayahuasca. | 2014 | Review | |
| The Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine and the Heart: A Delicate Relation Humans, animals | 2015 | Review | |
| Ibogaine in the treatment of substance dependence. | 2013 | Review | |
| Ibogaine, an anti-addictive drug: pharmacology and time to go further in development. A narrative review. | 2008 | Review | |
| Registered clinical studies investigating psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders. Registered clinical trials on clinicaltrials.gov evaluating psychedelics for... | 2021 | Review | n = 70 |