Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
Kirsten Cherian, Jackob N. Keynan, Lauren Anker, Afik Faerman, Randi Brown, Ahmed Shamma, Or Keynan, John P. Coetzee, Jean-Marie Batail, Angela Phillips, Nicholas J. Bassano, Gregory L Sahlem, Jose Inzunza, Trevor Millar, Jonathan Dickinson, C E Rolle, Jennifer Keller, Maheen M. Adamson, Ian H. Kratter, Nolan Williams
Nature Medicine February 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02705-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective observational study Open-label Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Male Special Operations Forces veterans with predominantly mild traumatic brain injury |
| Interventions | Ibogaine Magnesium |
| Duration | Immediately and 1 month after treatment |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Tbi treatment Brain injury recovery Tbi intervention Head injury treatment Veterans health Military personnel well-being Soldier health Veteran care Ex-service member health Mental health therapy PTSD Treatment Depression therapy Anxiety management Psychiatric intervention Psychological treatment Complementary medicine Natural remedies Herbal medicine Nutritional therapy Integrative medicine Botanical treatment |
| Citations | 66 |
| Registration | NCT04313712 |
| Key findings | The Magnesium-Ibogaine protocol produced significant improvements in functioning, PTSD, depression, and anxiety at one month after treatment, with no serious adverse events. |
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability. Sequelae can include functional impairments and psychiatric syndromes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Special Operations Forces (SOF) veterans (SOVs) may be at an elevated risk for these complications, leading some to seek underexplored treatment alternatives such as the oneirogen ibogaine, a plant-derived compound known to interact with multiple neurotransmitter systems that has been studied primarily as a treatment for substance use disorders. Ibogaine has been associated with instances of fatal cardiac arrhythmia, but coadministration of magnesium may mitigate this concern. In the present study, we report a prospective observational study of the Magnesium-Ibogaine: the Stanford Traumatic Injury to the CNS protocol (MISTIC), provided together with complementary treatment modalities, in 30 male SOVs with predominantly mild TBI. We assessed changes in the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule from baseline to immediately (primary outcome) and 1 month (secondary outcome) after treatment. Additional secondary outcomes included changes in PTSD (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5), depression (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale). MISTIC resulted in significant improvements in functioning both immediately (Pcorrected < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.74) and 1 month (Pcorrected < 0.001, d = 2.20) after treatment and in PTSD (Pcorrected < 0.001, d = 2.54), depression (Pcorrected < 0.001, d = 2.80) and anxiety (Pcorrected < 0.001, d = 2.13) at 1 month after treatment. There were no unexpected or serious adverse events. Controlled clinical trials to assess safety and efficacy are needed to validate these initial open-label findings. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04313712 .
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes. Adults with DSM-IV opioid dependence | 2018 | Observational study | n = 30 |
| Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. Individuals receiving legal ibogaine treatment for opioid dependence in New Zealand | 2018 | Observational study | n = 14 |
| Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, concerns for safety, and preliminary efficacy measures. Drug-dependent persons undergoing inpatient detoxification | 2000 | Observational study | |
| Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: a retrospective study. Former alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and crack users (72% poly-drug users) | 2014 | Retrospective analysis | n = 75 |
| Changes in Withdrawal and Craving Scores in Participants Undergoing Opioid Detoxification Utilizing Ibogaine. Participants with opioid use disorder undergoing ibogaine detoxification | 2018 | Observational cohort | n = 50 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 51
- Efficient and modular synthesis of ibogaine and related alkaloids. Nature Chemistry March 1, 2025
- A multi-institutional investigation of psilocybin’s effects on mouse behavior bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) April 9, 2025
- Oxa-Iboga alkaloids lack cardiac risk and disrupt opioid use in animal models. Nature Communications September 20, 2024
- How Psychedelics Modulate Multiple Memory Mechanisms in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Drugs November 1, 2024
- Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians-Historical Perspective and Overview. American Journal of Therapeutics
and 46 more in the library
Cites 37
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology November 8, 2017
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
and 32 more in the library