Ibogaine is a potent hallucinogenic drug that is derived from the African shrub, Tabernanthe Iboga. The substance has been used in spiritual ceremonies in Western Africa for generations but has more recently become known as an addiction treatment medication that greatly reduces the severity of opiate withdrawal symptoms and also reduces cravings for substances such as alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine and nicotine.1
Ibogaine remains an illegal schedule 1 drug in the US but it is legal for use in many countries of the world. Its addiction treatment properties were discovered in the 1960’s but for various reasons (including its illegality in America) there remains a dearth of clinical research on its effectiveness. Nevertheless, scant research data is countered by a growing body of anecdotal evidence on its effectiveness and there are now many Ibogaine therapy clinics in existence in the Caribbean, in Canada and Mexico and across Europe.
How Does Ibogaine Work as Addiction Treatment?
Although Ibogaine remains an experimental and poorly studied drug, proponents of the shamanic hallucinogen say that it:
- Almost immediately stops opiate withdrawal symptoms
- Reduces drug cravings
- Grants you insight into why you use drugs or alcohol
Ibogaine treatment has been described as "like a reset switch for life." After Ibogaine treatment most people experience reduced cravings and greatly reduced drug withdrawal symptoms and many people will emerge from the experience with a better understanding of why they needed to use drugs or alcohol in the first place.
What Does Ibogaine Treatment Feel Like?
Although in the US, Ibogaine is classified as a schedule I drug with a potential for abuse, most people who have used the hallucinogen describe an intense, very long lasting and not often pleasurable experience. There seems to be little realistic danger that people would want to use Ibogaine on a recreational basis.
People taking Ibogaine as addiction treatment typically take a single dose of the medication. This results in a three stage hallucinogenic journey that occurs over a period of days. In some cases, a single Ibogaine experience is enough to induce lasting abstinence from drug abuse, while some people may need to repeat the Ibogaine treatment experience 2 or 3 times to get full benefit.
The three stages of an Ibogaine treatment experience are:
1. The Acute Dreamlike Stage
Ibogaine is typically given as a single dose in the morning. Opiate using patients will typically be feeling the initial effects of withdrawal (typical morning withdrawal feelings) but these withdrawal feelings will melt away within about an hour or so of ingesting the Ibogaine. The duration of the acute stage is typically from 4 to 8 hours. Vomiting is common during this stage and seems to be exacerbated by movement, so patients will typically lie down and stay motionless in a comfortable, dark and quiet room. An observer is always present with the Ibogaine patient, to provide reassurance if necessary, and to monitor vital signs.
Most people (75%) will experience vivid dream-like hallucinations during this stage and most people will have an introspective memory journey that can help to create better awareness of why you act as you do. The visualizations are typically rapid and based on memories of the past. Although hallucinations during this stage are intense and very visual, they occur only when the eyes are closed (It is described as like watching a movie) and hallucinations disappear when eyes are opened.
2. The Evaluative Stage
Upon completion of the acute stage, Ibogaine patients enter into an evaluative stage that will last for 8 to 20 hours. During this stage, people spend time reflecting on the experiences of the acute stage.
The visual remembering of the dream-like state provide ample fodder for introspection during this phase. Often re-awakened memories reveal true motivations for actions or choices made in the past. Most Ibogaine users find they gain a better understanding of why they have acted as they have in the past (used drugs etc.) based on an evaluation of the memories unearthed during the first stage of the treatment.2
When this greater personal understanding of motivations and actions is coupled with a sudden dramatic reduction in drug cravings and the virtual disappearance of withdrawal symptoms, there is a window of opportunity for significant behavior change, such as stopping drugs or alcohol for good.
3. The Stimulation Phase
Following the evaluative stage, the Ibogaine user enters into a stimulation phase that will endure for 24 to 72 more hours.3
Most people find this stage somewhat unpleasant. The body is quite fatigued but sleep is difficult or impossible. Many people will be given sedatives or sleeping aides at some point during the stimulation phase to facilitate some resting. Most people will experience a greatly reduced need for sleep (2 to 4 hours per night) that will linger for weeks or even months following Ibogaine treatment.
page last update Nov 11, 2011
