Some anecdotal and early research evidence suggests that ibogaine, a compound derived from a shrub in western Central African, may help reduce symptoms of drug and alcohol withdrawal, ease cravings, and lower the risk of recurrent use.
Although
This article explains more about ibogaine, including what the research says so far about using it to treat addiction and the potential risks. It also lists some other psychedelic compounds that may be useful in addiction treatment.

Ibogaine is a type of compound called an alkaloid. It is the
The Bwiti religion uses different parts of T. iboga for certain healing and religious purposes. For example, as well as having hallucinogenic effects, the roots and root bark of the shrub can be effective in:
- restoring good health
- increasing sexual arousal or behavior
- reducing fever
The leaves of T.iboga also act as an aphrodisiac. In addition, their anesthetic properties mean that they can numb pain.
Research suggests that in small doses, ibogaine usually acts as a mild stimulant. However, larger quantities can cause hallucinations and induce a profound psychedelic state. This state may significantly reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal and block substance cravings.
In the 1980s, ibogaine became popular in Europe and the U.S. as a nonaddictive treatment option for drug dependency. Since then, some research indicates that ibogaine may also be useful for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, alcohol use disorder, and depression.
Despite the classification of ibogaine as a Schedule I drug, researchers renewed their investigations of the substance as a treatment for addiction in the late 1990s.
However, according to a 2020 article in
Anecdotal reports around ibogaine’s medical uses also indicate that it has promise as a treatment, but these reports are usually based on hearsay, observations, or historical accounts, as opposed to scientific research and trials.
Other
The safety profile of ibogaine is also currently unacceptable. The compound tends to accumulate in fatty tissues and can block potassium channels, causing heart problems. Furthermore, several people have died from ibogaine toxicity. Ibogaine can also cause hallucinations that can be severe and last longer than
Successes
Researchers around the world continue to explore ibogaine’s potential medical uses — in particular, its use as a treatment for addiction and neuropsychiatric conditions. Thousands of studies have investigated the different properties of ibogaine, its potential uses, and its effectiveness. Currently, Brazil, South Africa, and New Zealand classify ibogaine as a pharmaceutical substance that licensed medical professionals can use.
Some
Hallucinogens such as ibogaine may
In a 2014 study in Brazil, researchers recruited 75 participants who previously used cannabis, cocaine, crack cocaine, or alcohol. The participants who received one ibogaine treatment reported abstaining from drug use for a median of 5.5 months. Those who received multiple ibogaine treatments abstained for a median of 8.4 months.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) also helped fund two observational studies in 2017 that supported the use of ibogaine as a treatment for addiction to drugs.
In the first of these studies, which took place in Mexico, ibogaine use improved symptoms of opioid withdrawal and reduced subsequent drug use in people who had found other treatment options ineffective.
In the other study, researchers in New Zealand concluded that a single treatment with ibogaine reduced symptoms of opioid withdrawal in people dependent on opioids over 12 months. It also helped people stop taking opioids or maintain a reduced use. However, one person in the study died during treatment.
In 2012, the National Institute on Drug Abuse pledged $6.5 million to develop a nonpsychoactive version of ibogaine called 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC). Currently, researchers have completed a phase 1 human clinical trial of 18-MC, and there are plans for phase 2a clinical trials.
The DEA classifies ibogaine as a Schedule I controlled substance. According to this classification, ibogaine:
- has no currently accepted medical use
- lacks evidence to show that it is safe for use under medical supervision
- has a high risk of abuse and addiction
- can be a dangerous substance
Furthermore, ibogaine can be toxic, with the potential to cause paralysis, convulsions, and death from respiratory failure or heart failure.
According to MAPS, 30 people have died due to ingesting ibogaine in peer-reviewed scientific works. However, the association claims that researchers could have avoided most of these deaths by taking preventive steps, such as screening properly for medical conditions, monitoring electrolyte levels, and monitoring cardiac health.
Open-label studies and anecdotal reports
The psychiatric community has suggested a few other psychedelics as treatments for addiction, including:
- ketamine
- ayahuasca
- peyote (mescaline)
- substituted N-benzyl phenylalkylamines
- N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
- kratom
- 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
- salvia
Ibogaine has shown a lot of promise in early research, but the DEA has classified it as an illegal, dangerous substance in the U.S.
The reason for this classification is that there is not enough large-scale clinical research to support the effectiveness or safety of ibogaine as a treatment and to confirm how to use it therapeutically.
However, ibogaine seems to have a lot of potential, and researchers continue to study its therapeutic uses, with more and more studies emerging.
At present, it is important to note that people should never attempt to purchase ibogaine or use it without the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional. It is illegal and can lead to death.