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Ibogaine for addiction

Studies whose primary subject is both Ibogaine and Addiction, with an evidence synthesis read across the most-cited and most recent of them.

State of the evidence

Synthesized

Synthesized from 25 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below

Found by searching the library for Ibogaine, iboga, noribogaine, Addiction, substance use disorder, dependence, then ranked by relevance.

Across the research, ibogaine is consistently reported to reduce opioid withdrawal and craving and to be associated with periods of reduced drug use or abstinence, with effects reported in observational cohorts, case series, and qualitative accounts, and supported by animal and mechanistic work. However, the human evidence is dominated by open-label, retrospective, and uncontrolled studies with small samples and high attrition, so efficacy cannot be considered established. The main caveat is safety: cardiac arrhythmia, QT prolongation, and deaths are repeatedly reported, concentrated in opioid detoxification, and no large randomized controlled trial has yet been conducted.

Evidence by study

Direction is which way each study's own result points, not our rating of the study.

What the directions mean
Supports:
the study found the intervention worked, or its hypothesis held.
Opposes:
it found the opposite, no benefit or a harm.
No effect:
no significant difference either way.
Mixed:
effects in both directions within the same study.
Unclear:
the abstract does not report a direction.
Study Design Sample size Direction Finding
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Mediates the Desirable Actions of the Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine against Alcohol Consumption 2005 experimental study Supports Ibogaine reduced ethanol self-administration in rats, including in a relapse model, via upregulation of GDNF signaling in the ventral tegmental area.
Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes. 2018 observational study 30 Supports Ibogaine treatment reduced opioid withdrawal scores and was associated with improved drug use, legal, and family/social outcomes over 12 months, with 50% reporting no opioid use at 1 month.
Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. 2018 observational study 14 Supports A single ibogaine treatment significantly reduced opioid withdrawal acutely and was associated with reduced addiction severity and depression scores at 12 months, though one patient died during treatment.
The Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine and the Heart: A Delicate Relation 2015 review Mixed Ibogaine shows anti-addictive properties but is associated with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death, while the congener 18-MC may be safer.
Effects of ibogaine on acute signs of morphine withdrawal in rats: independence from tremor. 1992 randomized controlled trial Supports Ibogaine at 40 and 80 mg/kg significantly reduced four signs of naltrexone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats, including when tremors were absent.
Medication Development of Ibogaine as a Pharmacotherapy for Drug Dependencea. 1998 rising tolerance study (Phase I trial) Unclear Describes an ongoing Phase I rising-tolerance study assessing safety, pharmacokinetics, and dose effects of ibogaine in cocaine-dependent patients to determine whether efficacy trials are warranted.
Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: a retrospective study. 2014 retrospective analysis 75 Supports Ibogaine supervised by a physician with psychotherapy was associated with 61% abstinence, median abstinence of 5.5 months after single treatment and 8.4 months after multiple treatments, and no serious adverse reactions or fatalities.
Ibogaine Detoxification Transitions Opioid and Cocaine Abusers Between Dependence and Abstinence: Clinical Observations and Treatment Outcomes. 2018 open-label case series 191 Supports Ibogaine in an effective dose range blocked opioid withdrawal symptoms with no significant adverse events and reduced heroin and cocaine cravings.
Ibogaine in the treatment of substance dependence. 2013 review Mixed Preclinical research generally supports anecdotal claims that ibogaine attenuates withdrawal and reduces craving, but safety concerns and a lack of solid human data have hampered controlled trials.
Ibogaine, an anti-addictive drug: pharmacology and time to go further in development. A narrative review. 2008 review Supports Animal and anecdotal human data indicate ibogaine has anti-addictive effects, though its pharmacological targets are not completely understood.
A review of chemical agents in the pharmacotherapy of addiction. 2002 review Supports Ibogaine has been reported to interrupt cravings for alcohol, cocaine, and opiates, and the congener 18-MC shows potential without hallucinogenic effects.
Biosynthesis of an Anti-Addiction Agent from the Iboga Plant. 2019 theoretical or philosophical paper Unclear Reports the complete biosynthesis of (-)-voacangine and a biocatalytic route to (-)-ibogaine, noting these compounds show promise as treatments for opioid addiction.
A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine. 2022 systematic review 705 Mixed Published data suggest ibogaine reduces withdrawal symptoms and craving and may benefit depressive and trauma-related symptoms, but severe medical complications and deaths associated with neuro- and cardiotoxicity are reported.
Autoregulation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor expression: implications for the long-lasting actions of the anti-addiction drug, Ibogaine. 2006 in vitro cell culture study Supports Short-term ibogaine exposure produced a sustained increase in GDNF expression via a long-lasting autoregulatory positive feedback loop, offering a mechanism for long-lasting anti-addiction effects.
Changes in Withdrawal and Craving Scores in Participants Undergoing Opioid Detoxification Utilizing Ibogaine. 2018 observational cohort 50 Supports At 48 hours after ibogaine, withdrawal and craving scores were significantly lower than baseline, with 78% showing no objective withdrawal signs and 79% reporting minimal cravings.
Toward a nuanced framework for the medical development of ibogaine and its analogues and derivatives: implications for psychopharmacology 2026 review Unclear Argues that two development strategies exist for ibogaine-based therapies—broad polypharmacological compounds and selective bespoke analogs—each with distinct translational trade-offs, and that oversimplified narratives about derivative superiority should be resisted.
Cost-Effectiveness of Medically Monitored Ibogaine for Opioid Use Disorder in Tennessee: A State-Specific Semi-Markov Analysis 2026 decision-analytic model (cohort state-transition model with semi-Markov features) 106000 Supports Adding medically monitored ibogaine to standard care was associated with lower direct medical costs, higher QALYs, and improved survival over 10 years in the base case, though cost savings were sensitive to program cost and durability assumptions.
Indication-stratified mortality risk of ibogaine treatment under contemporary safety protocols: a multisite analysis of 19,071 patients and updated systematic review of fatalities 2026 retrospective multisite study with systematic review 19071 Mixed Six deaths within 72 hours occurred, all among patients treated for opioid use disorder (6/10,382) and none among 8,689 non-SUD patients, indicating mortality is largely confined to opioid detoxification.
Exploring the Use of Ibogaine in Opioid Recovery: Insights from Lived Experience 2026 qualitative collective case study 10 Mixed Participants associated ibogaine with rapid detoxification, improved mood, reduced anxiety, and periods of sustained abstinence, though relapse occurred in some cases.
The Efficacy and Safety of Ibogaine Treatment for Substance Use Disorders - A Narrative Review 2026 narrative review Mixed Ibogaine shows promising potential for reducing withdrawal and craving in substance use disorders but carries serious cardiotoxicity risks including QT prolongation and potentially fatal arrhythmias.
Oxa-noribogaine reduces alcohol drinking through aversion learning and by altering glutamatergic activity in the mPFC 2026 translational rat model Supports Oxa-noribogaine reduced alcohol consumption and relapse-like drinking in rats by strengthening learning from negative drinking outcomes, matching or exceeding ibogaine's efficacy without detectable motor or cardiac liabilities.
Ibogaine: Therapeutic Potential, Cardiac Safety, and Translational Perspectives in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders—A Scoping Review 2026 scoping review Mixed Ibogaine's multimodal neuropharmacological profile shows potential for treating substance use disorder, but clinical translation is constrained by fragmented evidence, absent regulatory frameworks, and unresolved cardiac safety concerns.
Ibogaine for Opioid Use Disorder: An Unrecognized Risk. 2026 commentary Opposes Argues that framing ibogaine as an alternative to standard medications for opioid use disorder could increase overdose risk for some individuals, and that the addiction medicine community should defend evidence-based care.
Feasibility, safety and preliminary effects of ibogaine in patients with moderate and severe alcohol use disorder: a pilot, open-label study 2026 open-label pilot feasibility study 9 Mixed Ibogaine produced transient QTc changes in five of nine patients and mild to moderate blood pressure alterations with no serious adverse effects; most reported reduced alcohol use, but only five completed the study and the authors caution that motivation and placebo effects may explain these reports.
Ibogaine: Revisiting an Ancient Alkaloid for Modern Opioid Dependence 2025 review Unclear Concludes that ibogaine is an interesting candidate that needs further study to determine its safety and potential for treating opioid dependence.

Points of agreement

  • Ibogaine is consistently reported to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and drug craving in humans.
  • Observational and retrospective studies report reduced drug use or sustained abstinence after ibogaine treatment, with some effects lasting months.
  • Animal and mechanistic studies support anti-addiction effects, including reduced ethanol and opioid withdrawal signs and GDNF-mediated mechanisms.
  • Cardiac risks, including QT prolongation, arrhythmias, and deaths, are repeatedly reported and are a major barrier to clinical development.
  • The human evidence base is dominated by uncontrolled, open-label, retrospective, and small-sample studies.

Conflicts

  • Some studies report no serious adverse events or fatalities, while others document life-threatening arrhythmias and deaths.
  • One commentary argues ibogaine could increase overdose risk if used as an alternative to standard medications, contrasting with studies reporting reduced craving and withdrawal.
  • Reported abstinence rates and durability vary widely across studies, from 50-61% to relapse in some cases.
  • Some reviews emphasize promising efficacy, while others stress that efficacy remains unproven without randomized controlled trials.

Gaps

  • No large randomized controlled trial of ibogaine for addiction has been completed.
  • Durability of abstinence beyond 12 months is largely unstudied.
  • Blinding and control conditions are absent in most human studies, leaving placebo and motivation effects unresolved.
  • Optimal dosing, dose-response relationships, and standardization of formulations are unclear.
  • Long-term cardiac safety data and risk stratification for different patient populations are limited.
  • Evidence for alcohol and stimulant use disorders is much thinner than for opioid use disorder.
Browse these studies in the library

Common questions

What does the research agree on about ibogaine for addiction?
  • Ibogaine is consistently reported to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and drug craving in humans.
  • Observational and retrospective studies report reduced drug use or sustained abstinence after ibogaine treatment, with some effects lasting months.
  • Animal and mechanistic studies support anti-addiction effects, including reduced ethanol and opioid withdrawal signs and GDNF-mediated mechanisms.
  • Cardiac risks, including QT prolongation, arrhythmias, and deaths, are repeatedly reported and are a major barrier to clinical development.
  • The human evidence base is dominated by uncontrolled, open-label, retrospective, and small-sample studies.
Where do studies on ibogaine for addiction conflict?
  • Some studies report no serious adverse events or fatalities, while others document life-threatening arrhythmias and deaths.
  • One commentary argues ibogaine could increase overdose risk if used as an alternative to standard medications, contrasting with studies reporting reduced craving and withdrawal.
  • Reported abstinence rates and durability vary widely across studies, from 50-61% to relapse in some cases.
  • Some reviews emphasize promising efficacy, while others stress that efficacy remains unproven without randomized controlled trials.
What is still unknown about ibogaine for addiction?
  • No large randomized controlled trial of ibogaine for addiction has been completed.
  • Durability of abstinence beyond 12 months is largely unstudied.
  • Blinding and control conditions are absent in most human studies, leaving placebo and motivation effects unresolved.
  • Optimal dosing, dose-response relationships, and standardization of formulations are unclear.
  • Long-term cardiac safety data and risk stratification for different patient populations are limited.
  • Evidence for alcohol and stimulant use disorders is much thinner than for opioid use disorder.
How we analyze this

This synthesis reads the 15 most-cited and 10 most recent studies whose primary subject is Ibogaine for addiction, up to 25 in all. The most-cited set anchors the established evidence, and the recent set surfaces work that is too new to have gathered citations yet.

A study qualifies only when Ibogaine for addiction or a known alias appears in its title or keywords, so broad reviews that mention it only in passing are left out. Each study is read from its abstract, strongest evidence first, and the summary reports the direction of the results along with any conflicts and gaps.

The full method, including what a person does and does not review, is on the methods page.

Ask your own question in the Research Synthesis Tool

93 articles · 20 from the last two years · 128,186 participants across 30 studies reporting sample size

Common study designs

review 20 case study 5 qualitative study 7 experimental study 7 theoretical or philosophical paper 5

Research volume by year

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87 studies whose primary subject is ibogaine for addiction since 2002

Studies about ibogaine for addiction per year, 2002 to 2026, peaking at 9 in 2025 Bar chart: one bar per year, taller where more studies were published that year. 0 5 10 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
2026 is partial
Show the numbers
Studies about ibogaine for addiction per year, 2002 to 2026, peaking at 9 in 2025
Year Studies
2002 3
2003 1
2004 1
2005 1
2006 3
2007 0
2008 1
2009 1
2010 1
2011 3
2012 1
2013 2
2014 2
2015 4
2016 6
2017 4
2018 8
2019 4
2020 2
2021 3
2022 5
2023 6
2024 7
2025 9
2026 9

Research

Synthesize the evidence →

Toward a nuanced framework for the medical development of ibogaine and its analogues and derivatives: implications for psychopharmacology

Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery July 4, 2026 Christopher D. Verrico, Lynnette A. Averill, Cameron J Moore et al.

INTRODUCTION: Ibogaine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid with suggested therapeutic potential across substance use disorders, trauma-related conditions, mood disorders, and suicidality. However, its clinical translation has been hindered by safety concerns, regulatory barriers, and uncertainty regarding its complex pharmacology. Recent interest has surged in developing ibogaine analogs...

DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2026.2693144 (opens in new tab) Addiction Clarity Drug development Psychopharmacology +4

Cost-Effectiveness of Medically Monitored Ibogaine for Opioid Use Disorder in Tennessee: A State-Specific Semi-Markov Analysis

June 30, 2026 T Wagner, Gaetano Lardieri, KD Adams

Background: Opioid use disorder remains a major public health and healthcare-system challenge in Tennessee, where many adults remain untreated, undertreated, or poorly retained in care. Medically monitored ibogaine has been proposed as a potential intervention for OUD, but its economic implications in a state treatment environment have not been well characterized. We evaluated the health and...

DOI: 10.52106/3070-5487.1015 (opens in new tab) Opioid use disorder Quality-adjusted life year Clinical endpoint Cohort study +3

Indication-stratified mortality risk of ibogaine treatment under contemporary safety protocols: a multisite analysis of 19,071 patients and updated systematic review of fatalities

Research Square June 17, 2026 Martijn Arns, Kenneth Shinozuka, Joseph P Barsuglia preprint

Abstract Ibogaine has shown early therapeutic promise for substance use disorders (SUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans, but concerns about treatment-associated cardiac arrhythmia and death have constrained clinical development. Whether this risk is uniform across indications or concentrated in specific populations is unknown. We conducted a retrospective multisite study of...

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9966269/v1 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Opioid use disorder Detoxification alternative medicine Poison control Mortality rate +6

Exploring the Use of Ibogaine in Opioid Recovery: Insights from Lived Experience

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs May 22, 2026 Jamie Walker, Daryle Deering, Bruno Hamish Unger

Opioid dependence is a public health concern in New Zealand, with limited treatment options beyond opioid substitution therapy (OST). Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid with reported anti-withdrawal and anti-craving effects for opioid dependence, is legally available by prescription in New Zealand, offering a context for exploring user experiences. A qualitative collective case study design was...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2026.2673843 (opens in new tab) Addiction Thematic analysis Context archaeology Opioid +9

The Efficacy and Safety of Ibogaine Treatment for Substance Use Disorders - A Narrative Review

Quality in Sport April 2, 2026 Milena Majchrzyk, Weronika Walendziak, Magdalena Ostaszewska et al.

Introduction and aim of the study. Substance use disorders, including opioid, cocaine, and alcohol dependence, represent a significant global health challenge with high relapse rates despite existing treatments. Ibogaine, a naturally occurring indole alkaloid derived from Tabernanthe iboga, has attracted increasing scientific interest due to its reported ability to reduce withdrawal symptoms...

DOI: 10.12775/qs.2026.54.69942 (opens in new tab) Context archaeology Narrative review Cardiotoxicity Substance use +11

Oxa-noribogaine reduces alcohol drinking through aversion learning and by altering glutamatergic activity in the mPFC

Research Square March 31, 2026 Marcus W. Meinhardt, Ivan Skorodumov, Florian Walter et al. preprint

Abstract Alcohol use disorder is a major global health problem, and current treatments often fail to produce lasting reductions in harmful drinking1,2. Psychedelic-assisted therapies may promote durable behavioural change by enhancing brain plasticity during emotionally meaningful experiences, but progress has been limited by a lack of experimental models that capture these context-dependent...

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9103509/v1 (opens in new tab) Neuroplasticity Alcohol use disorder Addiction Glutamatergic +7

Ibogaine: Therapeutic Potential, Cardiac Safety, and Translational Perspectives in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders—A Scoping Review

Molecules February 4, 2026 Monica Patrícia Esperança, N. N. S. Gomes, Maria Graça Campos 1 citation

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) constitutes a major and persistent global public health burden, accounting for approximately 600,000 deaths annually, largely driven by opioid use. Despite substantial advances in addiction neuroscience, currently approved therapeutic strategies remain limited in efficacy, as they predominantly target isolated neurobiological processes and fail to concurrently...

DOI: 10.3390/molecules31030545 (opens in new tab) Addiction Translational research Adverse effect Preclinical research +4

Ibogaine for Opioid Use Disorder: An Unrecognized Risk.

Journal of Addiction Medicine January 15, 2026 Dale Terasaki, Nathan Sackett, Andrew A. Monte

The psychedelic substance, ibogaine, has garnered growing interest among policymakers, researchers, and the public in its potential use for opioid use disorder (OUD). Many states are allocating significant funds to investigate it further. However, some proponents of ibogaine are framing it in opposition to (versus complementary to) standard, mortality-reducing medications for OUD (MOUD)....

DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001645 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Ibogaine Opioid use disorder Buprenorphine Detoxification +4

Feasibility, safety and preliminary effects of ibogaine in patients with moderate and severe alcohol use disorder: a pilot, open-label study

Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy 2026 Juliana Mendes Rocha, Renan Massanobu Maekawa, José Augusto Silva Reis et al.

INTRODUCTION: Ibogaine is a natural hallucinogen with emerging evidence for treating substance use disorders. However, its cardiovascular effects are not fully known, and most clinical data focus on opioid dependence, with limited data for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). This study assessed the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effects of ibogaine in patients with AUD. METHOD: In this...

DOI: 10.47626/2237-6089-2026-1437 (opens in new tab) Alcohol consumption Alcohol intake Medline Adverse effect

Clinical trials

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