Ibogaine is an
indole alkaloid found in the roots of Tabernanthe Iboga (Apocynaceae family), a rain forest shrub that is native to western Africa.
Ibogaine is used by indigenous peoples in low doses to combat
fatigue, hunger and thirst, and in higher doses as a sacrament in religious rituals. Members of American and European addict self-help groups have claimed that
ibogaine promotes long-term
drug abstinence from addictive substances, including psychostimulants and
opiates. Anecdotal reports attest that a single dose of
ibogaine eliminates
opiate withdrawal symptoms and reduces
drug craving for extended periods of time. The purported efficacy of
ibogaine for the treatment of
drug dependence may be due in part to an active metabolite. The majority of
ibogaine biotransformation proceeds via
CYP2D6, including the O-demethylation of
ibogaine to
12-hydroxyibogamine (
noribogaine). Blood concentration-time effect profiles of
ibogaine and
noribogaine obtained for individual subjects after single oral dose administrations demonstrate complex pharmacokinetic profiles.
Ibogaine has shown preliminary efficacy for
opiate detoxification and for short-term stabilization of
drug-dependent persons as they prepare to enter
substance abuse treatment. We report here that
ibogaine significantly decreased craving for
cocaine and
heroin during inpatient detoxification. Self-reports of depressive symptoms were also significantly lower after
ibogaine treatment and at 30 days after program discharge. Because
ibogaine is cleared rapidly from the blood, the beneficial aftereffects of the
drug on craving and depressed mood may be related to the effects of
noribogaine on the central nervous system.