KORN KURATED RESEARCH

The Psychedelic Ibogaine for Depression and PTSD

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of disability. Sequelae can include functional impairments and psychiatric syndromes such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. A recent study showed statistically significant improvement in participants with this condition in their overall functioning, depression, and PTSD symptoms after ibogaine treatment. Ibogaine is one of the several psychedelics we should consider referring to with our clients that specifically target PTSD, alcohol, and opiate addiction. There have been numerous reports of adverse events, especially cardiac arrhythmias in response to the use of Ibogaine, prompting the addition of magnesium to this intervention protocol and suggesting caution with use.

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A recent study at Stanford showed statistically significant improvement in participants with PTSD in their overall functioning, depression, and PTSD symptoms immediately and one month after ibogaine treatment.

Ibogaine derives from a West African plant called Iboga tabernanthe. It is a traditional indigenous plant used by the people of the Bwiti religion. Ibogaine is a ritual hallucinogen for psychological insight or spiritual growth and produces mild entheogenic effects, but the loss of ego associated with other entheogens, like psilocybin, does not occur.

Ibogaine is the major non-addictive extract from the plant. Its active metabolite, noribogaine, is an atypical opiate that appears to alter the addiction circuit by acting on both opioid and serotonergic receptors. It blocks addiction-like behavior, including opioid withdrawal and alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine use.

The effects of ibogaine are physically, psychologically, and spiritually profound, with an almost immediate elimination of withdrawal symptoms and a reduction in craving following the first ingestion. During an ibogaine treatment, individuals with opiate addictions experience a lifting of the physical symptoms of dependence within 30–45 minutes following ingestion. 

Iboga is not legally available in the United States. However, it is used in clinics in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Tags: Iboga, ibogaine, traumatic brain injury, PTSD

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• Course(s): PTSD, Complex Trauma, and Traumatic Brain Injury
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Referenced Research Publication

Nature Medicine
2024, February 03
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02705-w

Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability. Sequelae can include functional impairments and psychiatric syndromes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Special Operations Forces (SOF) veterans (SOVs) may be at an elevated risk for these complications, leading some to seek underexplored treatment alternatives such as the oneirogen ibogaine, a plant-derived compound known to interact with multiple neurotransmitter systems that has been studied primarily as a treatment for substance use disorders. Ibogaine has been associated with instances of fatal cardiac arrhythmia, but coadministration of magnesium may mitigate this concern. In the present study, we report a prospective observational study of the Magnesium-Ibogaine: the Stanford Traumatic Injury to the CNS protocol (MISTIC), provided together with complementary treatment modalities, in 30 male SOVs with predominantly mild TBI. We assessed changes in the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule from baseline to immediately (primary outcome) and 1 month (secondary outcome) after treatment. Additional secondary outcomes included changes in PTSD (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5), depression (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale). MISTIC resulted in significant improvements in functioning both immediately (Pcorrected < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.74) and 1 month (Pcorrected < 0.001, d = 2.20) after treatment and in PTSD (Pcorrected < 0.001, d = 2.54), depression (Pcorrected < 0.001, d = 2.80) and anxiety (Pcorrected < 0.001, d = 2.13) at 1 month after treatment. There were no unexpected or serious adverse events. Controlled clinical trials to assess safety and efficacy are needed to validate these initial open-label findings. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04313712.

Reference

Cherian, K. N., Keynan, J. N., Anker, L., Faerman, A., Brown, R. E., Shamma, A., Keynan, O., Coetzee, J. P., Batail, J. M., Phillips, A., Bassano, N. J., Sahlem, G. L., Inzunza, J., Millar, T., Dickinson, J., Rolle, C. E., Keller, J., Adamson, M., Kratter, I. H., & Williams, N. R. (2024). Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Nature medicine, 30(2), 373–381. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02705-w