IBOGAINE is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance found in a variety of plant species in the Apocynaceae family, principally Tabernanthe iboga.

It has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of various substance use disorders (SUDs), particularly detoxification for opioid-use disorders and the reduction of the associated post-acute withdrawal symptoms.

For its psychological effects, ibogaine is best classified as an oneirogen: a substance that produces waking dreams. For many ibogaine patients these effects are visual, and this visionary content is deeply subjective and personal, unfolding in much the same way as dreams.

The experience has also been likened to watching a film projected on an inner screen – often with a level of emotional detachment, even when the content is very emotional or graphic. This overall effect can evoke a state of profound contemplation and self-reflection.

The therapeutic benefits of ibogaine include lowering self-administration of opiates, cocaine, and alcohol, as well as increased levels of GDNF, which is neuroprotective and stimulates the growth of new neurons. 

In general, with proper preparation and supervision, ibogaine can be administered safely and without incident. Phase 1 safety trials funded by the National Institute on Health (NIH) found that ibogaine is not neurotoxic. However, because of ibogaine’s systemic effects, there are certain contraindicated conditions that can pose serious health risks if not identified during a careful screening process. Clients are responsible for providing accurate and complete information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other health-related matters.

Our ibogaine detox treatment programs span 7 days and occur on the 1st and 3rd week of every month, Sunday through Saturday. Treatment is provided to groups of 2-4 people at a time, and includes personalized counseling before and after ibogaine is administered by an experienced, certified medical professional, post-treatment care and supervision, customized adjunct therapies, food and lodging.

 

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following rights are granted to patients upon successful intake into an ibogaine therapy program.

1.     You have the right to understand and use these rights. If for any reason you do not understand your rights or you need help in understanding your rights, the ibogaine provider must make assistance available, including an interpreter.

2.     You have the right to be informed of the dosage and form of ibogaine you will receive.

3.    You have the right to receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

4.     You have the right to participate in all decisions about your treatment.

5.     You have the right to receive treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

6.     You have the right to receive considerate and respectful care in a clean and safe environment, free of unnecessary restraint.

7.     You have the right to be informed of the name, position, experience and credentials of the primary caregiver who will be in charge of your ibogaine therapy.

8.     You have the right to receive all the information that you need to give informed consent for any proposed procedure or treatment you will receive, and the possible risks and benefits of the proposed procedure or treatment.

9.     You have the right to refuse treatment and be told what effect this may have on your health.

10.   You have the right to be informed of alternate therapies.

11.   You have the right to privacy while undergoing Ibogaine treatment and confidentiality of all information and records regarding your care.

12.   You have the right to review your treatment record without charge and obtain a copy of your treatment record, for which your provider can charge a reasonable fee, with the understanding that you cannot be denied a copy solely because you cannot afford to pay.

13.   You have the right to complain without fear of reprisals about the care and services you are receiving, and to have the provider respond to you.

14.   You have the right to file a grievance report and have a patient advocate intervene on your behalf.

 

BY ACCEPTING THE ABOVE GRANTED RIGHTS, YOU ARE ALSO ACCEPTING THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.     Ibogaine use is contraindicated with certain medical and psychological conditions. You are responsible for providing accurate and complete information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other health-related matters.

2.     You are responsible for informing your treatment providers and other caregivers if you anticipate problems in following prescribed treatment.

3.     You must take responsibility for requesting additional information or clarification about your health status or treatment when you do not fully understand the current information or instructions.

The risks of this treatment are inherent in the use of an experimental psychedelic drug. As yet, there are no clinical studies of the long-term effects of ibogaine. However, no long-term side effects have been reported at the dosage we use.

Common short-term side effects include:

  • Decreased need for sleep over several days

  • Impaired muscular coordination (ataxia)

  • Impairment in concentration and verbal communication, usually during the visual phase of the ibogaine experience

  • Fall in blood pressure

  • Nausea and movement-induced vomiting

  • Sensitivity to light

  • Slowing of the heart rate (bradycardia)

  • Restlessness, possibly for several hours

  • Tremors

  • Visual distortion

  • In a small number of cases, a disturbance of the heart’s electrical cycle (slow QT) occurs.

The risk of death as a result of ibogaine treatment is extremely low, though no hard statistics have yet been compiled. It is clear from case reports that the risk is strongly associated with lack of skilled medical monitoring, both during and after treatment. Because most of the few fatalities seem to occur when patients are alone in the day or two following treatment, we provide continuous on-site monitoring through the fourth day.

There have been reports of death due to combinations of ibogaine with other drugs.  In particular, patients become more sensitive to narcotics. Use of opiates during or after treatment may lead to a fatal overdose.

There are also psychiatric risks. Ibogaine may bring to the surface repressed memories which most patients describe as profound and beneficial, but others find disturbing. In the latter group, anxiety, confusion, chaotic thinking, and/or insomnia may result.

NORIBOGAINE, or 10-hydroxyibogamine, is an active metabolite of ibogaine that is produced in the liver after ibogaine administration.

Ibogaine is known to have a half-life of about one hour in the blood, and while it has been shown to possibly be stored in fat tissue, it is believed that much of the long-acting benefits of ibogaine are attributable to the presence of noribogaine, which has a much longer half-life, and remains in the blood up to a day after the administration of a therapeutic dose of ibogaine.

Noribogaine has many of the same therapeutic qualities as ibogaine, including lowering self-administration of opiates, cocaine  and alcohol, as well as increase of levels of GDNF, which is neuroprotective and stimulates the growth of new neurons. 

It is believed that noribogaine contributes greatly to the therapeutic benefits of ibogaine.