Let’s finally win the fight against Addiction: Ibogaine, I’m in!

Hear me out Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Which famous person has already tried Ibogaine?

While scientific research on ibogaine is relatively limited and its use is not widespread in conventional medicine, several individuals in the public eye have reportedly used it, often in the context of seeking treatment for addiction or personal exploration. It’s important to note that these are reports and not necessarily verified medical records, and the outcomes of such use have varied.

Some notable individuals who have been associated with ibogaine use include:

• Lamar Odom: The former NBA player reportedly used ibogaine as part of his treatment for substance addiction.  
• Scott Disick: Known for his appearances on reality television, Scott Disick reportedly sought ibogaine treatment for issues related to substance use.  
• Matthew Mellon: The banking heir and cryptocurrency investor reportedly used ibogaine for addiction. Tragically, he died in Mexico after reportedly taking a substance, with some reports linking it to ibogaine or other substances used in similar treatment centers. His death highlights the significant risks associated with unregulated ibogaine use.
• Daniel Pinchbeck: An author known for his writings on psychedelics, Daniel Pinchbeck has written about his personal experience with ibogaine.  
• Hunter S. Thompson: The journalist satirically mentioned ibogaine in one of his articles, contributing to some public awareness, although not reflecting actual personal therapeutic use.  

It’s worth reiterating that the decision to use ibogaine by these individuals often occurred outside of conventional medical settings due to its legal status and lack of approval for medical treatment in many countries. As highlighted by cases like Matthew Mellon’s, seeking ibogaine treatment in unregulated environments carries substantial risks.

First, a truly challenging substance for mental health professionals

Ibogaine presents a unique and significant set of challenges for mental health professionals, as well as for the medical system at large.

Here’s why it’s so challenging:

1. Complex and Risky Pharmacology: Unlike many psychiatric medications, ibogaine has profound effects on various physiological systems, most notably the cardiovascular system, posing serious risks that require continuous medical monitoring by professionals specifically trained to manage these potential complications. This goes beyond the typical training of most mental health practitioners.
2. Intense Psychoactive Experience: Ibogaine induces a prolonged and often challenging psychedelic state, sometimes described as a waking dream or visionary experience. Facilitating and integrating such a powerful altered state requires specialized training and experience that is not part of standard mental health curricula.
3. Lack of Formal Training Pathways: Due to its legal status and limited use in mainstream healthcare, there are few formal training programs for mental health professionals specifically in ibogaine-assisted therapy.
4. Ethical and Legal Minefield: Working with a substance that is illegal or heavily restricted in most places creates complex ethical and legal dilemmas for practitioners, even those who see its potential therapeutic value.
5. Integration is Crucial but Difficult: The intense psychological material that can surface during an ibogaine experience requires careful and skilled therapeutic support after the acute effects subside for lasting benefit. This integration phase is vital but demanding.
6. Treating Complex Comorbidities: Individuals seeking ibogaine treatment often have severe addiction issues alongside significant mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or trauma, requiring a highly integrated and specialized treatment approach.

Therefore, effective and (as safe as possible given the inherent risks) ibogaine administration requires a highly specialized, multidisciplinary team involving not only mental health professionals trained in psychedelic support but, critically, medical doctors and nurses with expertise in cardiology and critical care. It highlights that ibogaine treatment is far from a standard mental health intervention and underscores the need for caution and further controlled research.

Microdosing ibogaine for depression

Based on current knowledge, using ibogaine, even in microdoses, for depression is an area with very limited scientific evidence and carries significant potential risks.

Here’s a breakdown of what is known:

1. Limited Research: While there’s growing interest in the potential of psychedelic microdosing for various mental health conditions, robust scientific studies specifically on microdosing ibogaine for depression are scarce. Most information is anecdotal or comes from very small case reports. A case report mentioned previously explored ibogaine microdosing for bipolar depression with some seemingly positive results, but a single case study is not sufficient to draw general conclusions about safety or effectiveness.
2. Mechanism is Unclear: While the mechanisms of full-dose ibogaine are being researched, how microdosing might work (if it does) is even less understood. It’s hypothesized that it might influence neurotransmitter systems or promote neuroplasticity, but this is speculative at sub-perceptual doses.
3. Risks Remain: Even at lower doses, ibogaine can affect the heart. The risk might be lower than with a full “flood” dose, but it is not eliminated. Ibogaine can prolong the QT interval in the heart’s electrical cycle, which can lead to dangerous arrhythmias. Without medical screening and monitoring, using ibogaine in any dose carries a risk of serious cardiac events, particularly for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions (known or unknown).
4. Dosage Control Issues: If using the Tabernanthe iboga plant itself, achieving a consistent “microdose” is extremely difficult due to natural variations in the plant’s alkaloid content. Using unregulated products claiming to be microdoses of ibogaine also carries risks regarding purity and actual dosage.
5. Legal Status: In many places, ibogaine remains illegal, making its use, even microdosing, a legal risk.

In summary, while there might be anecdotal reports or theoretical interest, there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to support the safety or effectiveness of microdosing ibogaine for depression. The inherent risks, particularly to the cardiovascular system, coupled with the lack of standardized dosing and research, mean that it cannot be recommended as a treatment.

So, how can it be useful at all? The good news

Based on the research and discussions so far, the potential usefulness of ibogaine is primarily being explored in specific contexts, despite the significant risks and the limited evidence for depression specifically, especially microdosing.

The main area where ibogaine has gained attention for its potential therapeutic properties is in addiction interruption, particularly for opioid addiction.  

Here’s how its potential usefulness is being investigated or discussed:

1. Addiction Treatment (Opioid, Stimulant, Alcohol): This is the area with the most historical interest and some of the most compelling (though still not universally accepted or regulated) evidence. Anecdotal reports and some observational studies suggest that a single, often high (“flood”) dose of ibogaine may significantly reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids and potentially other substances. The proposed mechanisms for this include interacting with opioid receptors, affecting dopamine pathways involved in reward, and potentially facilitating psychological insights that support recovery.  
2. Potential for “Resetting” Brain Chemistry: Some researchers hypothesize that ibogaine’s complex action on various neurotransmitter systems might offer a kind of “reset” effect on brain circuits that are dysregulated in addiction and potentially other conditions like severe depression or PTSD.  
3. Facilitating Psychological Insight: The intense psychoactive experience induced by higher doses of ibogaine can sometimes lead to introspective states, memory recall, and psychological processing that proponents believe can help individuals understand the root causes of their addiction or psychological distress.  
4. Neurotrophic Effects: As mentioned earlier, ibogaine and its metabolite noribogaine have been shown in animal studies to increase the expression of neurotrophic factors like BDNF and GDNF, which are important for neuronal health and plasticity. This could theoretically contribute to long-term therapeutic effects, potentially relevant for conditions involving neuronal dysfunction or damage, like TBI or chronic stress-related disorders.  
5. Severe or Treatment-Resistant Conditions: Due to its intensity and risk profile, if ibogaine were to be used therapeutically, it would likely be considered for severe or treatment-resistant cases where conventional treatments have failed and the potential benefits are weighed against the significant risks. The preliminary studies in veterans with TBI and co-occurring depression/PTSD fall into this category.

So, while its use for general depression or microdosing for depression lacks robust support and carries risks, its perceived potential lies in its ability to potentially disrupt addictive patterns and offer profound psychological experiences that, in some cases and with appropriate support, might facilitate significant shifts for individuals struggling with severe, entrenched issues.

However, it is crucial to reiterate that even in these areas, ibogaine is largely considered experimental, high-risk, and requires extensive medical and psychological support if administered. It is not a first-line treatment and is not legally or medically sanctioned in most conventional healthcare systems.

Your article this time is too long! Just tell me which centers/clinics offer it as a treatment option, and I will ask for myself. Alright?

Ok, OK!!. No need for frustration and impatiance. Why? Because I deem very important to presenty you with all the potentiel risks. Now you are free! I will give you 4 renowed Centers.

New Life Marbella

Madera Sagrada

Ibogaine Treatment Clinic – MindScape Retreat