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Ibogaine

Ibogaine molecule structureIbogaine molecule structure
10-Methoxyibogamine
Endabuse, Iboga, NIH 10567
Psychoactive Class
PsychedelicDissociative

Ibogaine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid primarily derived from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, a plant native to Central and West Africa.citation needed It has been used for centuries within the Bwiti religion of Gabon for initiation rites and spiritual communion. Ibogaine produces psychedelic and dissociative effects often described as dream-like and frequently unpleasant. Since the late 20th century, it has gained significant attention as an experimental treatment for opioid dependence, with clinics established worldwide.1

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.

Threshold~8 mg/kg
Light8-12 mg/kg
Moderate12-16 mg/kg
Strong16-22 mg/kg
Heavy22+ mg/kg

Effects are strongly dose-dependent. Doses in the range of 8–12 mg/kg typically produce psychedelic experiences, while higher doses of 15–25 mg/kg are associated with more intense effects and are commonly employed in addiction treatment contexts. Response varies considerably between individuals due to factors such as body weight, gastrointestinal absorption, and the purity of the preparation used.

Duration

Onset45-180 minutes
After Effects24-72 hours
Total24-30 hours
Half-life
~7 hours

Subjective Effects

Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.

Ibogaine produces a long, physically demanding experience that is widely described as rough and often unpleasant, unfolding over 24 hours or more in distinct phases. Full doses begin with a visionary phase of dream-like, waking imagery (oneirophrenia) in which visual content plays out like films or slideshows, frequently drawing on autobiographical memory and the reliving of past experiences. This gives way to an extended introspective phase in which insights are processed while side effects such as nausea, headaches, and mood disturbances linger, followed by a period of residual stimulation and insomnia; low mood can persist for days afterward. At low doses the compound instead acts as a stimulant, producing a state of tranquil lucidity without perceptual changes.

Physical

The body load is severe, with nausea and vomiting that can be intense, tremors, ataxia, and balance disturbances said to exceed nearly all other psychoactive drugs except alcohol. Users must endure strong and unpleasant central stimulation, and complete insomnia typically follows the experience.

Bodily

Stimulation

Central stimulation is intense and unpleasant, and because hallucinogenic doses are several times higher than stimulant doses, it must be endured to reach the visionary effects. Residual stimulation forms the final phase of the experience.

Increased heart rate

Uncomfortable

The physical burden is among the heaviest of any psychoactive drug, with balance disturbances and vomiting said to be exceeded only by alcohol.

Muscle tensionAppetite suppression

Cognitive

The headspace combines deep introspection and autobiographical recall with heavy interference: extreme confusion, anxiety, apprehension, and depressed mood are commonly reported alongside euphoria, empathy, insight, and ego softening. Irritability and mood swings mark the later phases, and prolonged use has been associated with manic episodes that may include delusions, aggression, and suicidal thoughts.

Analytical

Emotional

The emotional tone is unstable and often difficult, mixing euphoria and empathy with pronounced anxiety, confusion, and low mood; depression can persist well beyond 36 hours, a period sometimes called a "grey day".

EuphoriaEmpathy enhancement

Enhancements

Suppressions

Visual

Visual effects are almost always present at full doses and are dominated by dream-like internal imagery rather than geometric distortion, often described as watching films or slideshows of autobiographical content.

Hallucinatory States

Auditory

Auditory changes accompany the visionary state, ranging from heightened sensitivity to sound to outright hallucinations.

Auditory distortionAuditory hallucinations

Tactile

Tactile sensation may be enhanced, though abnormal and unpleasant skin sensations also occur.

Tactile enhancement

See also: Psychedelic Intensity Scale, Effects of psychedelics (visual, cognitive, miscellaneous)

Reagent Testing

Expected colorimetric results for common reagent tests. Colors show reaction change over 1–2 minutes.

Marquis(MQ)
white → purple1 → brown2 → orange2
Ehrlich(EH)
white → pink1 → purple2
Hofmann(HM)
white → yellow1 → green1
Powered by PROtestkit.eu

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Ibogaine acts on multiple neurotransmitter systems simultaneously, producing a complex pharmacological profile whose specific mediating targets are not fully established.2 It shows significant in-vivo occupancy of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and appreciable affinity for the NMDA receptor,citation needed yet neither ibogaine nor its major active metabolite noribogaine appear to function as direct 5-HT2A agonists, and ibogaine does not produce the head-twitch response (a behavioral proxy of 5-HT2A activation) in rodents. Animal drug discrimination studies implicate 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor activation, σ2 receptor signaling, and opioid receptor interactions in ibogaine's pharmacological activity, while the NMDA, 5-HT1A, 5-HT3, and σ1 receptors do not appear to contribute significantly. Noribogaine, the primary active metabolite, acts most potently as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and additionally functions as a moderate κ-opioid receptor agonist and weak μ-opioid receptor agonist or partial agonist. Noribogaine, but not ibogaine, has also been found to produce psychoplastogenic effects in vitro, an action that can be blocked by the 5-HT2A antagonist ketanserin.

Pharmacokinetics

Ibogaine is metabolized by CYP2D6 into its major active metabolite noribogaine (O-desmethylibogaine).citation needed In humans, ibogaine has an elimination half-life of approximately 7 hours,2 while noribogaine persists considerably longer with a half-life of 24 to 50 hours.citation needed Following ingestion, noribogaine reaches higher plasma concentrations than the parent compound and remains detectable for a longer period.4 Ibogaine may also be deposited in adipose tissue and gradually released for subsequent conversion to noribogaine.citation needed

Interactions

Interactions not written up yet

An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.

Check TripSit

Tolerance

Tolerance not written up yet

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Extremely Low

Ibogaine has minimal abuse potential due to the typically unpleasant and challenging nature of the experience.citation needed The substance is actively being studied as a treatment for opioid and other substance use disorders rather than as a drug of abuse. Compulsive redosing is essentially unreported given the extreme duration and physically taxing effects.

Toxicity

Cardiovascular

Ibogaine causes long QT syndrome at higher doses, presenting serious cardiac risks that can be fatal; individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions are at substantially elevated risk.citation needed

Cerebellum

High-dose laboratory studies in rats showed degeneration of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum; however, subsequent primate studies and limited human research found no evidence of this neurotoxicity.

Psychosis Risk

Manic episodes may occur and can last several days, potentially including insomnia, irritability, emotional instability, delusions, aggressive behavior, and thoughts of suicide.citation needed Depression is commonly reported following use and can persist well beyond 36 hours; in some cases, a persistently low mood may progress into major depressive disorder.

History & Culture

Traditional Use in Central Africa

The use of Tabernanthe iboga has been practiced for centuries among Central African foragers in Gabon, Cameroon, and surrounding countries, with this ethnobotanical knowledge eventually passed to the Bwiti tribe of Gabon.citation needed Within the Bwiti religion, iboga serves as a sacrament…

Legality

International

Ibogaine is not listed in the current schedules of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

Ibogaine is not listed in the current schedules of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

By Country

Illegal2
United States flagUnited StatesIllegal
Sweden flagSwedenIllegal
Not scheduled1
GabonNational Treasure (Protected)

References

Source Pages

  1. Drug Users Bible by Dominic Milton Trott
  2. Erowid: Ibogaine Article
  3. Erowid: Ibogaine Basics
  4. Erowid: Ibogaine Basics
  5. Erowid: Ibogaine FAQ
  6. Isomer Design (TiHKAL/PiHKAL)
  7. PsychonautWiki: Ibogaine
  8. The Drug Classroom
  9. Wikipedia

Citations

  1. Xaver Koenig, & Karlheinz Hilber. (January 2015). The anti-addiction drug ibogaine and the heart: a delicate relation. Molecules, 20(2), 2208–2228. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules200222081
  2. Michael J. Wasko, Paula A. Witt-Enderby, & Christopher K. Surratt. (October 2018). DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Ibogaine. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 9(10), 2475–2483. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b0029412
  3. Tamara Antonio, Steven R. Childers, Richard B. Rothman, Christina M. Dersch, Christine King, Martin Kuehne, William G. Bornmann, Amy J. Eshleman, Aaron Janowsky, Eric R. Simon, Maarten E. A. Reith, & Kenneth Alper. (2013). Effect of Iboga alkaloids on µ-opioid receptor-coupled G protein activation. PloS One, 8(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.00772621
  4. Michael H. Baumann, Richard B. Rothman, John P. Pablo, & Deborah C. Mash. (May 2001). In vivo neurobiological effects of ibogaine and its O-desmethyl metabolite, 12-hydroxyibogamine (noribogaine), in rats. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 297(2), 531–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3565(24)29567-712
  5. Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, safety concerns, and preliminary efficacy measures. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 914(1), 394–401 (September 2000). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb05213.x1
  6. Kenneth R. Alper, Marina Stajić, & James R. Gill. (March 2012). Fatalities temporally associated with the ingestion of ibogaine. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 57(2), 398–412. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.02008.x1
  7. With Rick Perry's backing and $50 million from the state, Texas set to become a leader in psychedelics research. The Texas Tribune (2025-06-11). https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-psychedelics-ibogaine-treatment-addiction-rick-perry-funding/1
  8. Iboga: Basic Info. ICEERS (International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service) (n.d.). https://www.iceers.org/iboga-basic-info/1
  9. Förordning (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika. riksdagen.se (n.d.). https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/forordning-19921554-om-kontroll-av-narkotika_sfs-1992-1554/1
  10. Förordning (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika. riksdagen.se (n.d.). https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/narkotikastrafflag-196864_sfs-1968-64/1

Further Reading

  1. Alper et al. 1999: Treatment of Acute Opioid Withdrawal with Ibogaine
  2. DrugWise: Ibogaine
  3. Mačiulaitis et al. 2008: Ibogaine, an anti-addictive drug

Article Status

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