Changes in Withdrawal and Craving Scores in Participants Undergoing Opioid Detoxification Utilizing Ibogaine.
Benjamin Malcolm, Martin Polanco, Joseph P Barsuglia
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2018 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2018.1447175 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Participants with opioid use disorder undergoing ibogaine detoxification |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Duration | Week-long detoxification protocol |
| Topics | Addiction Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Opiate Ibogaine treatment ibogaine Therapy Medication Plant-derived Opioid addiction opioid Substance dependence Drug dependence Addiction recovery addiction Detoxification Withdrawal management Craving reduction |
| Citations | 64 |
| Key findings | Ibogaine administration significantly reduced opioid withdrawal and craving scores in participants with opioid use disorder 48 hours after treatment. |
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is currently an epidemic in the United States (US) and ibogaine is reported to have the ability to interrupt opioid addiction by simultaneously mitigating withdrawal and craving symptoms. This study examined opioid withdrawal and drug craving scores in 50 participants with OUD undergoing a week-long detoxification treatment protocol with ibogaine. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was used for baseline characterization of participants' OUD. Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS), Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SOWS), and Brief Substance Craving Scale (BSCS) scores were collected at 48 and 24 hours prior to ibogaine administration, as well as 24 and 48 hours after ibogaine administration. At 48 hours following ibogaine administration, withdrawal and craving scores were significantly lowered in comparison to baseline: 78% of patients did not exhibit objective clinical signs of opioid withdrawal, 79% reported minimal cravings for opioids, and 68% reported subjective withdrawal symptoms in the mild range. Ibogaine appears to facilitate opioid detoxification by reducing opioid withdrawal and craving in participants with OUD. These results warrant further research using rigorous controlled trials.