Facts About Ibogaine

December 18th, 2012 | Add a Comment

Ibogaine is a hallucinogenic that is known for its extreme and long-lasting hallucinogenic effects. It is derived from a number of different plants stemming from West Africa. The chemical name for the drug is 12-Methoxyibogamine (C20H26N2O). It is a naturally-occurring dole alkaloid in the tryptamine family.

Originally it was only used in West Africa for religious ceremonies and gatherings. There has not been much interest shown in using Ibogaine as a recreational drug, but since the 1960’s it has been known to be used for anti-addiction therapy, mostly for the treatment of opiate addiction. It is illegal to possess or sell Ibogaine in the United States and is rarely found on the black market. It is often extracted from plant material but people have been known to synthesize it.

When Ibogaine is taken in higher doses it is known to cause vomiting and nausea, followed usually by dreamy visuals and numbness of skin lasting 3-5 hours, depending on the dose. This is usually followed by a very intense visualization of autobiographical events from the person’s life, which lasts anywhere from 10-20 hours. Usually one has trouble sleeping for the next day or two.

A few deaths from Ibogaine have been documented when given in much higher doses. Ibogaine is not known to be physically addictive nor is it likely to cause physiological dependence.

Ibogaine studies show its effects may be very useful in reducing drug craving for a significant period of time. The present study used a single psychoactive dose in a hospital-type setting, seeking patients with dependence to heroin or cocaine. Studies showed reduced cravings and withdrawals days after administration of Ibogaine. One patient had been a serious heroin addict for over 25 years when she decided to try Ibogaine. It was the most intense trip she had ever experienced. Four days later she reported feeling completely well and that she had finally overcome the addiction that had haunted her for over two decades.

There are now many treatment centers in Mexico and Canada, and several just opening throughout Europe, that use Ibogaine as their main weapon. It is increasingly being seen as a step forward in treating many addicts with drug addiction.

One friend of mine just got back from an Ibogaine experience at a treatment center in Cancun, Mexico. She had been using heroin for many years and then got on methadone. She was beat-up and in real bad shape with a nasty opiate habit when she went in. My friend returned about a week later feeling completely cleansed with no more withdrawal symptoms and very little cravings.

This may not be the answer to opiate addiction for all addicts, but it surely has worked for some. Many people who have tried nearly everything, with no success, have found that Ibogaine works for them. Ibogaine may not be an addict’s first choice, but it eventually may turn out to be the best available solution for someone trying to end his or her drug addiction.