The Iboga tree is the central pillar of the Bwiti religion practiced in West-Central Africa, mainly Gabon, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo, which uses the alkaloid-containing roots of the plant for its psychoactive properties in a number of ceremonies. Ibogaine is also used by indigenous peoples in low doses to combat fatigue, hunger, and thirst.
Ibogaine, or 12-methoxyibogamine, is an indole alkaloid molecule of the tryptamine chemical class. Tryptamines share a core structure composed of a bicyclic indole heterocycle attached at R3 to an amino group via an ethyl side chain. While ibogaine contains a tryptamine backbone, the structure features substitutions distinct from other hallucinogenic tryptamines.
Ibogaine is substituted at R10 of its structure with a methoxy group. The location of this substitution is identical to other R5 substituted tryptamines, notably 5-MeO-DMT. The traditional amino attached ethyl chain of tryptamine is incorporated into a seven member nitrogenous azepine ring. The azepine ring is fused to three interlocked cyclohexane rings, attached at the integrated tryptamine nitrogen of azepine and two carbons over. Attached to the fusion of cyclohexane rings is an ethyl chain at R7.
Ibogaine is obtained either by extraction from the iboga plant or by semi-synthesis from the precursor compound voacangine, another plant alkaloid.
Ibogaine is believed to produce its psychedelic effects from its binding efficacy at the 5-HT2A receptor. However, the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience continues to remain elusive.
Ibogaine is rapidly metabolized in the human body into noribogaine. Noribogaine acts as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It also acts as a moderate κ-opioid receptor agonist and weak µ-opioid receptor agonist It is possible that the action of ibogaine at the kappa opioid receptor may contribute significantly to the psychoactive effects. Salvia divinorum is another plant recognized for its strong hallucinogenic properties; it contains the chemical salvinorin A which is also a highly selective kappa opioid agonist.
Both ibogaine and noribogaine have a plasma half-life of around two hours in rats, although the half-life of noribogaine is slightly longer than that of the parent compound. It is proposed that ibogaine is deposited in fat and metabolized into noribogaine as it is released. After ibogaine ingestion in humans, noribogaine shows higher plasma levels than ibogaine and is detected for a longer period than ibogaine. Noribogaine is also more potent than ibogaine in rat drug discrimination assays when tested for the subjective effects of ibogaine.
Ibogaine also has activity as an NMDA receptor antagonist.
Ibiogaine can be found within a variety of natural sources which are primarily found on the African continent.
The most common of these are listed below.
Research suggests that ibogaine may be useful in treating dependence on other substances such as alcohol, methamphetamine, and nicotine and may affect compulsive behavioral patterns not involving substance abuse or chemical dependence. Researchers note that there remains a "need for systematic investigation in a conventional clinical research setting."
Many users of ibogaine report experiencing visual phenomena during a waking dream state, such as instructive replays of life events that led to their addiction, while others report therapeutic shamanic visions that help them conquer the fears and negative emotions that might drive their addiction. It is proposed that intensive counseling, therapy and aftercare during the interruption period following treatment is of significant value. Some individuals require a second or third treatment session with ibogaine over the course of the next 12 to 18 months. A minority of individuals relapse completely into opiate addiction within days or weeks. A comprehensive article on the subject of ibogaine therapy detailing the procedure, effects and aftereffects is found in "Ibogaine in the Treatment of Chemical Dependence Disorders: Clinical Perspectives".
There is also evidence that this type of treatment works with LSD, which has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on alcoholism. Both ibogaine and LSD appear to be effective for encouraging introspection and giving the user occasion to reflect on the sources of their addiction, while also producing an intense, transformative experience that can put established patterns of behaviour into perspective; ibogaine has the added benefit of preventing withdrawal effects.
Ibogaine has been associated with life-threatening heart complications, such as QT prolongation. It can be taken safely, but only under the supervision of trained medical professionals.
-not habit-forming, and the desire to use it can actually decrease with regular consumption. Like most psychedelics, it is most often thought to be self-regulating.
Ibogaine is unregulated and unlicensed in most countries. Some exceptions are listed below.
Brazil: On January 14, 2016, Ibogaine was legalized for prescription use.
Canada: Ibogaine is prescription drug since 2017.
Germany: Ibogaine is not a controlled substance under the BtMG (Narcotics Act) or the NpSG (New Psychoactive Substances Act). Technically it would fall under the definition of a medicine by §2 AMG (Medicines Act) because it induces a pharmacological effect. By a decision of the European Court of Justice, this definition was declared ineffective because it was not compatible with EU law. Ibogaine can be considered unregulated.
Mexico: As of 2009, ibogaine is unregulated.
New Zealand: Ibogaine was gazetted in 2009 as a non-approved prescription medicine.
Norway: Ibogaine is illegal (as are all tryptamine derivatives).
Sweden: Ibogaine is a schedule I drug.
Switzerland: Ibogaine is a controlled substance specifically named under Verzeichnis D.
United Kingdom: It is illegal to produce, supply, or import this drug under the Psychoactive Substance Act, which came into effect on May 26th, 2016.
United States: Ibogaine is classified as a Schedule I drug, and is not currently approved for addiction treatment (or any other therapeutic use) because of its hallucinogenic, cardiovascular and possibly neurotoxic side effects, as well as the scarcity of safety and efficacy data in human subjects.
Responsible use
Tryptamines
Entheogens
Psychedelics
Ayahuasca
Ibogaine (Wikipedia)
Ibogaine (Erowid Vault)
Ibogaine (TiHKAL / Isomer Design)
Ibogaine (Drugs-Forum)
Discussion
The Big & Dandy Ibogaine Thread (Bluelight)
Mačiulaitis, R., Kontrimavičiūtė, V., Bressolle, F. M. M., & Briedis, V. (2008). Ibogaine, an anti-addictive drug: pharmacology and time to go further in development. A narrative review. Human & experimental toxicology, 27(3), 181-194. https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327107087802.
Koenig, X., & Hilber, K. (2015). The anti-addiction drug ibogaine and the heart: a delicate relation. Molecules, 20(2), 2208-2228. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules20022208
