Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study.
Geoffrey E Noller, Chris M Frampton, Berra Yazar-Klosinski
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 2018 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2017.1310218 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Individuals receiving legal ibogaine treatment for opioid dependence in New Zealand |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Duration | 12-month follow-up |
| Topics | Ibogaine Addiction |
| Keywords | Legal availability Opioid dependence Opioid detoxification Psychedelics Ibogaine therapy: ibogaine Opioid withdrawal symptoms Drug use Psychedelic medicine: psychedelic |
| Citations | 150 |
| Key findings | A single ibogaine treatment reduced opioid withdrawal symptoms and achieved opioid cessation or sustained reduced use in dependent individuals over 12 months. |
Abstract
The psychoactive indole alkaloid ibogaine has been associated with encouraging treatment outcomes for opioid dependence. The legal status of ibogaine in New Zealand provides a unique opportunity to evaluate durability of treatment outcomes. To examine longitudinal treatment effects over a 12-month period among individuals receiving legal ibogaine treatment for opioid dependence. This observational study measured addiction severity as the primary outcome in 14 participants (50% female) over 12 months post-treatment using the Addiction Severity Index-Lite (ASI-Lite) following a single ibogaine treatment by either of two treatment providers. Secondary effects on depression were assessed via the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) was collected before and immediately after treatment to measure opioid withdrawal symptoms. Nonparametric comparisons via Friedman Test between baseline and 12-month follow-up for participants completing all interviews (n = 8) showed a significant reduction for the ASI-Lite drug use (p = 0.002) composite score. Reductions in BDI-II scores from baseline to 12-month follow-up were also significant (p < 0.001). Significant reductions in SOWS scores for all participants (n = 14) were also observed acutely after treatment (p = 0.015). Patients with partial data (n = 4) also showed reductions in ASI-Lite drug use scores and family/social status problems. One patient enrolled in the study died during treatment. A single ibogaine treatment reduced opioid withdrawal symptoms and achieved opioid cessation or sustained reduced use in dependent individuals as measured over 12 months. Ibogaine's legal availability in New Zealand may offer improved outcomes where legislation supports treatment providers to work closely with other health professionals.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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A single ibogaine treatment significantly reduced addiction severity and depression scores at 12 months and acutely reduced withdrawal symptoms, though one patient died during treatment.
Synthesized
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State of the evidence: Ibogaine Supports
A single ibogaine treatment significantly reduced ASI-Lite drug use and BDI-II depression scores at 12 months and acutely reduced SOWS withdrawal scores, with one patient death during treatment.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ibogaine for addiction, 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 |
| 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 |
| Ibogaine and Subjective Experience: Transformative States and Psychopharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Participants with opioid use disorder in Mexico (n=30) and New Zealand (n=14) | 2019 | Observational study | n = 44 |
| The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ibogaine in opioid use disorder patients. Patients with opioid use disorder undergoing detoxification | 2024 | Observational cohort | n = 14 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 129
- A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential. Nature 2021
- Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period Nature June 14, 2023
- Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development Frontiers in Pharmacology July 5, 2018
- The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion Journal of Psychedelic Studies July 1, 2019
- Psychedelic Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Patient Experiences in Qualitative Studies CNS Drugs August 17, 2020
and 124 more in the library
Cites 15
- Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development Frontiers in Pharmacology July 5, 2018
- Treatment of acute opioid withdrawal with ibogaine. American Journal on Addictions 1999
- The ibogaine medical subculture. Journal of Ethnopharmacology January 4, 2008
- A preliminary investigation of ibogaine: case reports and recommendations for further study. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 1994
- Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, concerns for safety, and preliminary efficacy measures. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000
and 10 more in the library