Ibogaine is Effective, Says Therapy Coordinator Johnny Tabaie, at Minimizing Withdrawal Symptoms for Addicts

Addictions are something that take a vice grip on you and don’t let go. There are prescription medications like Methadone and Naltrexone that sometimes help people trying to get off their drug of choice and handle the side effects and withdrawal symptoms that accompany it. However, according to the respected Johnny Tabaie of The Holistic Sanctuary, Ibogaine is another option that isn’t getting the attention it deserves in the treatment of addiction.

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What is Ibogaine and how does it help manage addiction problems?

Ibogaine 101

Ibogaine was thought to have been discovered in 1962 as a psychoactive substance originating in plant life that has a psychedelic effect on people who take it. It was initially used by a heroin addict who along with several friends were experimenting with the substance to see whether it helped with their cravings and reliance on heroin.

The most potent source is the tabernantheiboga bark in Africa. The medicinal has been used for several centuries on the African continent in various forms and was even researched by the CIA in the 1950s. Some medical studies were conducted in the 1990s, but no useful conclusions were drawn. However, within the substance abuse recovery community, the substance is strongly believed to help with managing withdrawal symptoms and to better manage cravings for another “fix” which helps to avoid drugs long enough to get clean.

Success Rates

For people who used the medication, it provided some relief from cravings in 20-50% of cases in the MAPS study. A recent Brazilian study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that it provided long-term relief in 60% of people in their study. Johnny Tabaie of The Holistic Sanctuary used Ibogaine in helping him shake off a multi-decade heroin addiction and he believes strongly in the benefits of its use.

Derivates Available?

There are several derivates being developed with the hope that they can be produced and later gain official FDA approval. It is likely to be a few years before a commercially viable version of Ibogaine is available by prescription. The FDA has previously conducted studies in the 1960s and 1993 on Ibogaine but didn’t continue with their research.

Recent Research

Recent research by The Multidiscipline for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was conducted in New Zealand and Mexico. The USA still classifies Ibogaine as a Class 1 narcotic, other countries including the UK haven’t chosen to do so. It was found that the use of Ibogaine to mitigate withdrawal symptoms in low doses is quite common in the addiction recovery community.

MAPS concluded that as a recreational drug, Ibogaine doesn’t fit the profile. It does have psychedelic properties, but typically only at high dosage levels; the benefits to people in withdrawal from substance abuse only require low levels of the medication to be effective. Ibogaine does have some significant side effects including possible liver issues, could reduce the heart rate, and it cannot be taken in conjunction with other drugs to avoid creating a legal cocktail.

The risks of using Ibogaine are not to be dismissed, however, the risk of continuing to abuse drugs can also be life threatening or fatal. Just like some other approved medication, use in moderation has a few notable benefits for some addicts, but going beyond the recommend low dosage can cause problems. It is best administered by the therapeutic community who deal with addiction day in, day out, have years of experience working with it and can prescribe it to patients in various stages of withdrawal who need the additional help to get clean.