Novel treatment of opioid use disorder using ibogaine and iboga in two adults
Claire Wilson, Trevor Millar, Zak Matieschyn
Journal of Evolutionary Psychology March 30, 2020 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2020.00133 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2 |
| Population | Individuals with opioid use disorder accessing ibogaine through private unregulated clinics in the Vancouver area |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Topics | Addiction Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Abstinence Pharmacology Anesthesia |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Two individuals with opioid use disorder achieved long-term abstinence from opioids (3 years and 2 years, respectively) after ibogaine treatment, with one experiencing no withdrawal symptoms. |
Abstract
Abstract Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychedelic medicine with anti-addictive properties. While research on ibogaine is limited, several observational studies have shown ibogaine can mitigate opioid withdrawal, as seen with reductions in clinical and subjective opioid withdrawal scores and reduced drug use severity (Noller, Frampton, & Yazar-Klosinski, 2018; Brown & Alper 2018). Furthermore, the psychoactive experience may help individuals to realign their values, purpose and sense of connection, as seen with post treatment reductions in depression scores (Noller et al., 2018; Mash et al., 2000). Case series This case series describes two cases of individuals accessing ibogaine through private unregulated clinics in the Vancouver area to treat their opioid use disorder. Conclusions In case 1, the client achieved total abstinence from all opioids within 5–6 days of starting ibogaine treatment, did not experience any opioid withdrawal symptoms after ibogaine treatment and maintained abstinence from opioids for 3 years. In case 2, the patient took ibogaine/iboga in multiple treatments over a short period of time (<4 months). The patient stopped all non-medical opioids after the first iboga treatment and then used ibogaine to aid with further dose reductions of her opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and has maintained abstinence from opioids for 2 years. Ibogaine offers a unique and novel therapeutic approach to treating opioid use disorder. Further studies are needed to establish the safety, risks and potential role for ibogaine as a mainstream, evidence-based addiction treatment.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on ibogaine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-QT Syndrome Induced by the Antiaddiction Drug Ibogaine A 31-year-old woman | 2009 | 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 |
| Remission of Severe Opioid Use Disorder with Ibogaine: A Case Report. 37-year-old female with severe opioid use disorder | 2016 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Ibogaine Consumption With Seizure-Like Episodes, QTc-Prolongation, and Captured Cardiac Dysrhythmias. 34-year-old white woman with heroin and cocaine use disorder | 2019 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Risk management in a global market of alternative addiction care: a case study of the ibogaine medical subculture | 2025 | Case study |