Ibogaine, a putative antiaddictive
drug, is remarkable in its apparent ability to downgrade
withdrawal symptoms and
drug craving for extended periods of time after a single dose.
Ibogaine acts as a non-competitive
NMDA receptor antagonist, while
NMDA has been implicated in long lasting changes in neuronal function and in the physiological basis of
drug addiction. The purpose of this study was to verify if persistent changes in
NMDA receptors could be shown in vivo and in vitro after a single administration of
ibogaine. The time course of
ibogaine effects were examined on
NMDA-induced
seizures and [3H]
MK-801 binding to cortical membranes in mice 30 min, 24, 48, and 72 h post treatment.
Ibogaine (80 mg/kg, ip) was effective in inhibiting convulsions induced by
NMDA at 24 and 72 hours post administration. Likewise, [3H]
MK-801 binding was significantly decreased at 24 and 72 h post
ibogaine. No significant differences from controls were found at 30 min or 48 h post
ibogaine. This long lasting and complex pattern of modulation of
NMDA receptors prompted by a single dose of
ibogaine may be associated to its antiaddictive properties.