This interview study (n=10) suggests that ibogaine has the potential to attenuate opioid abuse and discusses common subjective themes reported by recipients of ibogaine therapy.
Abstract of A phenomenological investigation into the lived experience of ibogaine and its potential to treat opioid use disorders
“Background and aims: This study examined the lived experience of individuals who underwent ibogaine treatment for an opioid use disorder.
Methods: Semi-structured interview questions probed for potential changes in predetermined categories derived from a literature review. Participants’ experiences with ibogaine were analyzed for commonalities and emergent themes.
Results: Categories that emerged revealed themes about subjective neurological and physical effects, auditory and visual phenomena, impact on withdrawal and craving, and shifts in outlook on self and life.
Conclusion: Ibogaine treatment provides a subjectively powerful physiological, emotional, and psychological experience, attenuates opioid withdrawal, and results in a more optimistic outlook on self and life.”
Authors: Thaddeus J. Camlin, Donald Eulert, Arthur T. Horvath, Steven F. Bucky, Joseph P. Barsuglia & Martin Polanco
Summary of A phenomenological investigation into the lived experience of ibogaine and its potential to treat opioid use disorders
Researchers have demonstrated that ibogaine alleviates opioid withdrawal in rats and decreases self-administration of morphine. The culmination of current research suggests that ibogaine’s mechanism of action is novel, and that it resets neural circuitry involved in addictive behaviours to relieve opioid cravings and withdrawal.
Ibogaine treatment for opioid withdrawal is a vast uncontrolled experiment with significant risks. Research is needed to deepen our understanding of ibogaine, including evaluating risk factors for individuals with preexisting medical conditions and individuals who use opiates within 72 hr of ingestion.
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https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.2018.004
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Cite this paper (APA)
Camlin, T. J., Eulert, D., Thomas Horvath, A., Bucky, S. F., Barsuglia, J. P., & Polanco, M. (2018). A phenomenological investigation into the lived experience of ibogaine and its potential to treat opioid use disorders. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 2(1), 24-35.
Study details
Compounds studied
Ibogaine
Topics studied
Addiction
Opioid Use Disorder
Study characteristics
Interviews
Qualitative
Participants
10
Humans