Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study

Geoffrey E Noller ¹, Chris M Frampton ², Berra Yazar-Klosinski ³

Affiliations Expand

• PMID: 28402682
• DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2017.1310218

Abstract

Background: The psychoactive indole alkaloid ibogaine has been associated with encouraging treatment outcomes for opioid dependence. The legal status of ibogaine in New Zealand provides a unique opportunity to evaluate durability of treatment outcomes.

Objective: To examine longitudinal treatment effects over a 12-month period among individuals receiving legal ibogaine treatment for opioid dependence.

Method: This observational study measured addiction severity as the primary outcome in 14 participants (50% female) over 12 months post-treatment using the Addiction Severity Index-Lite (ASI-Lite) following a single ibogaine treatment by either of two treatment providers. Secondary effects on depression were assessed via the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) was collected before and immediately after treatment to measure opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Results: Nonparametric comparisons via Friedman Test between baseline and 12-month follow-up for participants completing all interviews (n = 8) showed a significant reduction for the ASI-Lite drug use (p = 0.002) composite score. Reductions in BDI-II scores from baseline to 12-month follow-up were also significant (p < 0.001). Significant reductions in SOWS scores for all participants (n = 14) were also observed acutely after treatment (p = 0.015). Patients with partial data (n = 4) also showed reductions in ASI-Lite drug use scores and family/social status problems. One patient enrolled in the study died during treatment.

Conclusion: A single ibogaine treatment reduced opioid withdrawal symptoms and achieved opioid cessation or sustained reduced use in dependent individuals as measured over 12 months. Ibogaine’s legal availability in New Zealand may offer improved outcomes where legislation supports treatment providers to work closely with other health professionals.

Keywords: Ibogaine; legal availability; opioid dependence; opioid detoxification; opioid withdrawal; psychedelics.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

• Breaking the cycle of opioid use disorder with Ibogaine.C Mash D.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):1-3. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2017.1357184. Epub 2017 Dec 7.PMID: 29215917 No abstract available.

Similar articles

• Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes.Brown TK, Alper K.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):24-36. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2017.1320802. Epub 2017 May 25.PMID: 28541119
• Changes in Withdrawal and Craving Scores in Participants Undergoing Opioid Detoxification Utilizing Ibogaine.Malcolm BJ, Polanco M, Barsuglia JP.J Psychoactive Drugs. 2018 Jul-Aug;50(3):256-265. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2018.1447175. Epub 2018 Apr 2.PMID: 29608409
• The ibogaine medical subculture.Alper KR, Lotsof HS, Kaplan CD.J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Jan 4;115(1):9-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.08.034. Epub 2007 Aug 25.PMID: 18029124
• Ibogaine in the treatment of substance dependence.Brown TK.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2013 Mar;6(1):3-16. doi: 10.2174/15672050113109990001.PMID: 23627782 Review.
• IUPHAR – invited review – Ibogaine – A legacy within the current renaissance of psychedelic therapy.Mash DC.Pharmacol Res. 2023 Apr;190:106620. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106620. Epub 2023 Mar 11.PMID: 36907284 Review.

See all similar articles

Cited by

• Oxa-Iboga alkaloids lack cardiac risk and disrupt opioid use in animal models.Havel V, Kruegel AC, Bechand B, McIntosh S, Stallings L, Hodges A, Wulf MG, Nelson M, Hunkele A, Ansonoff M, Pintar JE, Hwu C, Ople RS, Abi-Gerges N, Zaidi SA, Katritch V, Yang M, Javitch JA, Majumdar S, Hemby SE, Sames D.Nat Commun. 2024 Sep 20;15(1):8118. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-51856-y.PMID: 39304653 Free PMC article.
• Multiple Episodes of Cardiac Arrest Induced by Treatment With Ibogaine: A Case Report.Mestre D, Paula A, Gil FP, Vaz J.Cureus. 2024 Jun 29;16(6):e63487. doi: 10.7759/cureus.63487. eCollection 2024 Jun.PMID: 39081435 Free PMC article.
• Ethnoracial inclusion in clinical trials of psychedelics: a systematic review.Hughes ME, Garcia-Romeu A.EClinicalMedicine. 2024 Jul 3;74:102711. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102711. eCollection 2024 Aug.PMID: 39050106 Free PMC article. Review.
• Deaddicta® for maintenance treatment of Opioid-dependence: A six-month follow-up.Moosavyzadeh A, Ghaffari F, Saberizafarghandi MB, Talafi Noghani M, Hassanpour H, Emadi F, Alijaniha F, Bahaeddin Z, Nasiri L, Jafari Hajati R, Naseri M.Caspian J Intern Med. 2024 Spring;15(2):318-327. doi: 10.22088/cjim.15.2.318.PMID: 38807734 Free PMC article.
• Substance Addiction Rehabilitation Drugs.Yuan S, Jiang SC, Zhang ZW, Li ZL, Hu J.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024 May 10;17(5):615. doi: 10.3390/ph17050615.PMID: 38794185 Free PMC article. Review.