Found in a shrub that is native to Western Africa, Ibogaine is a psychedelic substance that has been used throughout history for healing ceremonies and initiation rituals, typically in the Bwiti religion. Rising in popularity in the United States, this substance is being used to treat opiate addictions. It is not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and it currently sits in the category of a schedule I drug. This means that Ibogaine treatment is considered to be highly likely to be abused. Despite its classification, Ibogaine is being used for treatment purposes and can be found through holistic professionals and medicinal stores of this sort.
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Treatment Usage
Because Ibogaine affects the body as a mild stimulant, it can be used for a number of desired effects. When it comes to opioid addiction, this product can be administered to help with withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The effects are, unfortunately, short in duration and this is what can end up causing abuse of Ibogaine.
Side Effects
Unfortunately, when a drug isn’t studied in depth enough, this can result in some dangerous side effects. For example, the few studies that have been done on Ibogaine shows that there have been unexplained deaths in humans when taken in large doses. The reason for these deaths has not been determined at this point in time. So, while the side effects might be beneficial, it comes with substantial risks.
Research
A long-term study was conducted in Mexico that followed thirty different people in Mexico. These thirty people were using Ibogaine as a way to reduce the issues that they were having with addiction treatment. The opiates that were being administered were closely monitored along with the dosage of Ibogaine that was administered. This study was conducted over the course of twelve months and reports followed things like:
- Medical status
- The ability to hold a job during this time
- Family medical history
- Mental health state
The results were somewhat discouraging regarding Ibogaine treatment as an effective and safe method of treatment for addiction. Ultimately, one-third of the participants experienced a relapse within the first month of the study. Only four of the thirty total participants did not experience a relapse after one full year had gone by during the study and it is not clear if this was because of the use of Ibogaine.
Unfortunately, it does not look like Ibogaine functions as an effective treatment against addiction. While it may interrupt the withdrawals and unpleasant symptoms, more often than not, a relapse takes place. Of course, this treatment might be used along with other forms of treatment like talk therapy. Ultimately, a rehabilitation plan needs to be put into place that encompasses a number of different treatment forms over the course of a couple of years. This will ensure that recovery takes place and it will reduce the risk of falling back into unwanted patterns of behavior. More studies will need to be done on Ibogaine to determine whether it can be safely used for a purpose such as this. Controlled studies will safely answer these questions rather than leaving the answers to the fate of people choosing to take Ibogaine.
