A phenomenological investigation into the lived experience of ibogaine and its potential to treat opioid use disorders
Thaddeus James Camlin, Donald Eulert, A. Thomas Horvath, Steven F. Bucky, Joseph P Barsuglia, Martin Polanco
Journal of Psychedelic Studies June 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2018.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals who underwent ibogaine treatment for an opioid use disorder |
| Intervention | Ibogaine treatment |
| Topics | Addiction Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Craving Lived experience Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Interpretative phenomenological analysis Qualitative research |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Ibogaine treatment attenuates opioid withdrawal and results in a more optimistic outlook on self and life. |
Abstract
This study examined the lived experience of individuals who underwent ibogaine treatment for an opioid use disorder. Semi-structured interview questions probed for potential changes in predetermined categories derived from a literature review. Participants' experiences with ibogaine were analyzed for commonalities and emergent themes. Categories that emerged revealed themes about subjective neurological and physical effects, auditory and visual phenomena, impact on withdrawal and craving, and shifts in outlook on self and life. Ibogaine treatment provides a subjectively powerful physiological, emotional, and psychological experience, attenuates opioid withdrawal, and results in a more optimistic outlook on self and life.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ibogaine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A phenomenological analysis of the subjective experience elicited by ibogaine in the context of a drug dependence treatment Patients with substance-related disorders | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 22 |
| Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: A qualitative study Patients with substance use disorders, including psychostimulant users | 2017 | Qualitative study | |
| Underground ibogaine use for the treatment of substance use disorders: A qualitative analysis of subjective experiences. Participants with substance use disorders who self-treated with ibogaine | 2023 | Qualitative study | n = 13 |
| Ibogaine therapy for addiction: Consumer views from online fora. Contributors to Reddit and Drugs Forum discussing ibogaine therapy | 2020 | Qualitative thematic analysis | n = 101 |
| The visionary cure of the addiction war? Ibogaine: social context, subcultural identity, and implications for drug policy Humans | 2011 | Comparative ethnography |
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- Psychedelic Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Patient Experiences in Qualitative Studies CNS Drugs August 17, 2020
- Defining Transformative Experiences: A Conceptual Analysis Frontiers in Psychology June 24, 2022
- Ibogaine and Subjective Experience: Transformative States and Psychopharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2019
- IUPHAR - invited review - Ibogaine - A legacy within the current renaissance of psychedelic therapy. Pharmacological Research April 1, 2023
- Trauma-Informed Care in Psychedelic Therapy Research: A Qualitative Literature Review of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Interventions in PTSD and Psychedelic Therapy Across Conditions. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2024
and 16 more in the library
Cites 26
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Treatment of acute opioid withdrawal with ibogaine. American Journal on Addictions 1999
- 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
- Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Mediates the Desirable Actions of the Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine against Alcohol Consumption Journal of Neuroscience January 19, 2005
and 21 more in the library