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Ibogaine Facts

Hallucinogen; Indole alkaloid; NMDA receptor antagonist

Description

Ibogaine is a naturally-occurring psychedelic of the iboga alkaloid class. It acts on opioid, serotonin, and glutamate brain systems simultaneously, producing its unusual anti-addictive effects.[1][2][3]

Subjective effects include waking visions of personal memories, emotional catharsis, panoramic autobiographical recall, and a detached observer-like perspective on one's own life. The experience is unlike any classical psychedelic — rather than distorting the outside world, ibogaine generates an internal dream-cinema of personal memories.

Ibogaine does not cause physical dependence,[4] but it can trigger fatal heart arrhythmia at therapeutic doses by blocking a cardiac electrical channel.[5] This risk extends for days after ingestion because the metabolite noribogaine clears slowly; opioids, heart medications, and common antidepressants amplify it significantly.

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg/kg)
Threshold< 1 mg/kgLight3 – 8 mg/kgCommon10 – 20 mg/kgStrong20 – 25 mg/kgHeavy25+ mg/kg

Starts in 30 – 180 minLasts 18 – 36 hoursAfter-effects 24 – 72 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
High
Chronic toxicity
Low
Physical dependence
None
Psychological dependence
Negligible
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Negligible

Tolerance

Builds
None
Fully resets after
Not recorded

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Dreaming enhancement; Spatial disorientation; Holotropic state; Light sensitivity; Proprioceptive distortion; Sensory deprivation; Sleep-transition hallucinations; Vestibular distortion; +22 possible, including Tinnitus, Visual haze / noise, Double vision
Body
Nausea; Wakefulness; Dizziness; Insomnia; Motor control impairment; Nystagmus (eye wobbles); Physical fatigue; Sedation; +23 possible, including Temperature dysregulation, Heart rate perception changes, Trembling
Thinking
Immersion enhancement; Cognitive fatigue; Cognitive impairment; Confusion; Decision impairment; Introspection enhancement; Memory replays; Thought disorganization; +19 possible, including Information processing suppression, Thought loops, Cognitive dysphoria
Feeling
Catharsis; Emotional enhancement; Emotional lability; +7 possible, including Anxiety, Dysphoria, Paranoia
Self
Communication suppression; Sociability suppression; +8 possible, including Depersonalization, Derealization, Social disconnection
Time
Time alteration; Temporal disorientation; +1 possible
Transpersonal
none likely · 1 possible
Awareness
Personal insight; Lucid dreaming enhancement; +3 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Long QT syndrome; Structural heart disease; Pregnancy; Concurrent QT-prolonging medication; Concurrent opioid use
Relative
Hepatic impairment; Electrolyte imbalances; CYP2D6 inhibitor use without dose adjustment

Combinations60 recorded

Lethal (4)
GHB, GBL; Local anesthetics; Opioids; Stimulants
Dangerous (44)
Benzodiazepines; Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; Naltrexone; Nicotine; NRIs; THC; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Amphetamines; Anticholinergics; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Atypical antipsychotics; Buprenorphine, Kratom; Buspirone; Caffeine; CBD; Dopamine agonists; DXM; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Gabapentin, Pregabalin; GHB, Baclofen; and 20 more, see full page
Caution (8)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/ibogaine
Not graded (4)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

No emergency profile is recorded for this substance. Not recorded never means no risk.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Deecher DC, Teitler M, Soderlund DM, Bornmann WG, Kuehne ME, Glick SD (1992) Mechanisms of action of ibogaine and harmaline congeners based on radioligand binding studies — Brain research PMID:1377086
  2. [2]
    ^Chen K, Kokate TG, Donevan SD, Carroll FI, Rogawski MA (1996) Ibogaine block of the NMDA receptor: in vitro and in vivo studies — Neuropharmacology PMID:8793904
  3. [3]
    ^Sweetnam PM, Lancaster J, Snowman A, Collins JL, Perschke S, Bauer C, Ferkany J (1995) Receptor binding profile suggests multiple mechanisms of action are responsible for ibogaine's putative anti-addictive activity — Psychopharmacology PMID:7568622
  4. [4]
    ^Belgers M, Leenaars M, Homberg JR, Ritskes-Hoitinga M, Schellekens AF, Hooijmans CR (2016) Ibogaine and addiction in the animal model, a systematic review and meta-analysis — Translational psychiatry doi:10.1038/tp.2016.71
  5. [5]
    ^Alper K, Bai R, Liu N, Fowler SJ, Huang XP, Priori SG, Ruan Y (2016) hERG Blockade by Iboga Alkaloids — Cardiovascular toxicology doi:10.1007/s12012-015-9311-5
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