204 Ibogaine
for it, with no need to keep taking ibogaine. Scientific efforts to verify such
claims were under way while this book was being written. Verification would
make ibogaine unique in the history of substance abuse treatment and would
also challenge much of what is known about why people abuse drugs.
Ibogaine was given to 33 heroin addicts who did not reside in a treatment
center; 25 of them exhibited no effort to obtain heroin during the four days
of subsequent observation. These 33 experiences were not, however, part of
an experimental study but instead were individual instances noted from time
to time over a 31-year period, an overall average of about one instance per
year. A group of researchers reported that ibogaine not only suppressed desire
for heroin and cocaine among residents being weaned off those drugs in a
treatment facility but that ibogaine made the people less depressed as well—
an improvement in mood that was still present 30 days after release from
treatment. In another study 7 opiate addicts received a single dose of ibogaine.
Although 1 addict shortly resumed opiate use, 3 avoided further opiate use
for several weeks, and 3 avoided further drug abuse for at least 14 weeks.
None of the 7 experienced an opiate withdrawal syndrome. Ibogaine reduces
intake ofalcohol, cocaine, heroin,morphine,nicotine, food, and water by rats.
Lowered consumption of food and water raises question about whether ibo-
gaine is affecting drug consumption per se or is exerting some broader action.
An ibogaine derivative, however, reduces rats’ drug intake without reducing
water intake.
Results are inconsistent on whether the drug improves or impedes learning
in rats, an effect related to memory. One theory holds ibogaine allows humans
to remember why they started using drugs, thereby helping abusers to stop.
The instant results claimed for ibogaine, however, are inconsistent with the
time necessary for memories to liberate persons from other psychiatric afflic-
tions. And the memory theory also assumes that the reason an abuser started
using drugs was either invalid in the past or is no longer valid in the present,
an assumption inconsistent with much that is known about drug abuse. Nor
does the memory theory explain why ibogaine reduces drug consumption in
rats. The memory aspect is commonly mentioned by users, however, and some
claim to achieve major positive realignment of their lives through ibogaine-
induced insights into past experiences and allegorical interpretations of
hallucinations. Nonetheless, some heroin addicts who initially announced
themselves cured by ibogaine did not find the change permanent and resumed
heroin use. One report says the ibogaine cure lasted less than a month for
about 25% of heroin addicts who received it, longer for others who received
supplemental therapy and who were dedicated to changing their lives.
A curiosity about the use of ibogaine in addiction treatment is that reported
doses range from 500 mg to 1,800 mg. One authority says 1,000 mg is typical.
An amount of 200 mg is considered sufficient to cause hallucinations. Addi-
tional effects of 200 mg are described as nervousness (perhaps bordering on
fear), unpleasant feelings in arms and legs, difficulty in muscular coordination,
tremors with rapid and repeated contraction and relaxation of muscles, and
inability to sleep. Nausea and vomiting are sometimes reported, along with
so much uncomfortable sensitivity to light that people cover their eyes. Such
unwanted actions might be publicized as substantial drawbacks in a street