Ibogaine Treatment - Research Paper Example

 Ibogaine Treatment Ibogaine is a psychoactive naturally occurring substance found in the West African part. It is an alkaloid and works as a mild stimulant in small doses; however, in high doses it creates a profound psychedelic state. Larger doses of Ibogaine can cause withdrawal from opiates and can reduce the cravings. In some countries it is being used to treat addiction to opiates. First time, in 1960s the reports appeared that claimed in ibogaine having ability to interrupt addictions to heroine, alcohol, cocaine. In U.S it has been placed under restrictions for use; however, in Mexico and Canada it is permitted to have therapeutic consumption and further allow experimenting with so as to have clear understanding how it acts. (Ibogaine for Drug…) Psychoactive effects Ibogaine has been found to have a mild stimulating effect at doses of 1-2 mg/kg of body weight. Higher dose of around 4 mg/kg can cause a dream-like visual phase. It is also known as dream inducing substance with altogether different effects than that of normal psychedelics. Higher doses are said to have induced contraindications like ataxia (difficulty in coordinating muscle motion), vomiting, and nausea. Ibogaine, in acute state is said to have incapacitating effects. Ibogaine in Opioid Detoxification Professor Kenneth Apler, associate professor of Psychiatry and neurology, New York University presented a paper in Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 14, 2009. His findings can be summarized as per the following. The administered dose of ibogaine is kept at 10 to 25 mg/kg of body weight. 1. The efficacy of the treatment is found strong in way of acute opioid detoxification. 2. There is consistency among outcomes and treatment experiences. 3. Following the treatment a reduced drug craving is observed that often remains for weeks to months. 4. There has been consistency in reports of treatment outcomes and experiences. Those who have been treated with ibogaine confirm high tolerability relative to other treatments for acute opiod withdrawal. (Alper Kenneth, 2009) In one of the research studies done by Alper, KR; Lotsof, HS; Frenken, GMN; Luciano, DJ; and Bastiaans, J (1999), it was deduced that out of 33 treatments done of opioid addiction, complete resolution indicating withdrawal was found in 29 cases. The success rate was said to be 88 percent from the ibogaine treatment. (Alper, Kenneth (2009) Other Studies on Ibogaine Some more studies were also carried out by different researchers and outcomes can be listed as per the following. Anti addictive potential of ibogaine was discovered by Howard Lotsof in the early sixties, since then significant research has been done in finding the ibogaine as a treatment to addiction. In a paper published by Glick et al. (1992), ibogaine has been found to have reduced self administration of morphine in rats. In other findings by (Cappendijk & Dzoljic, 1993) ibogaine was found to have reduced the self administered cocaine addiction in rats. (Mash et al. 2001) has reported their findings as per the following. In all, 32 patients were treated for either opioid or methadone or heroin withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms were measured on Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (OOWS). The dose of 800 mg ibogaine was administered after 12 hours of the last opiate consumption. Craving significantly reduced at 12 and 24 hours of ibogaine administration. Even decreased craving was observed at 72 hours post ibogaine treatment. The reduced cravings were maintained at 6 to 9 days post treatment. Depression symptoms were reduced at 9 days and 1 month post treatment. (Mash, D.C 2001) Psychological Disorder Effects Short term treatment effects of ibogaine are well known but it will be interesting to note the psychological symptoms before and after ibogaine treatment. Following table presents the responses from total 18 responders who were drug addicts and were treated with ibogaine. They were asked to respond for their psychological disorders during and after the treatment and their responses are summarized. Percentage distribution of psychological symptoms before and after Ibogaine Treatment (N=18) Source: Bastiaans, Ehud (2004), Life after Ibogaine Above table clearly indicates that there has been a significant improvement in all kinds of psychological disorders. The percentage of psychological improvement seen is 96% as a weighted average of the improvement rates. (Bastiaans, Ehud 2004) It will be interesting to note how frequency of ibogaine treatment acts in maintaining drug free period of the addicts. That is well tabulated as per the following. Median and Mean Drug Free Period as a Function of Number of Ibogaine Treatments (in months) Number of Treatments Median Mean 1 treatment 2.3 9.7 2 treatments 12.0 35.7 3 treatments 42.0 52.0 Source: Bastiaans, Ehud (2004), Life after Ibogaine It is amply clear from the above findings that with each subsequent treatment drug free period increases substantially. It is pertinent to note that after 3 treatments drug free period goes as high as 42 months in median terms. Conclusion It can be said that with wide ranging researches carried out by various researchers in last 50 years, ibogaine has got acceptance at various quarters for its ability to alleviate the symptoms of drug withdrawal. Along with other claims made by the clinical researchers in treatment of psychotic disorders have a great significance too and it will take some more time before it is firmly established and widely accepted to have such therapeutic uses. Although it is classified as a schedule 1 drug in U.S, Switzerland, and Belgium yet people who have a long record of substance abuse continue to visit international clinics and undergo ibogaine treatment. In coming years with more clinical researches, perhaps there will be more clarity and acceptability of ibogaine as one of the most potent and natural inhibitor to treat drug addicts on a permanent basis. References: 1. Ibogaine for Drug Addiction. Online at http://www.maps.org/research/ibogaine/ [Accessed on 3/29/2011] 2. Alper, Kenneth (2009). Ibogaine in Opioid Detoxification. Online at http://www.ibogamind.com/researchfiles/ibogaineinopioiddetoxalper.pdf [Accessed on 3/29/2011] 3. Glick, S. D., K. Rossman, et al. (1992). "Effects of ibogaine on acute signs of morphine withdrawal in rats: independence from tremor." Neuropharmacology 31(5): 497-500. 4. SLT Cappendijk and MR Dzoljic European Journal of Pharmacology 241: 261-265, 1993 5. Mash, D.C., Kovera A., Pablo J., Tyndale R., Ervin F.R., Kamlet J.D., and Hearn W.L. (2001). “Ibogaine in the Treatment of Heroin Withdrawal” in Ibogaine: First International Conference (The Alkaloids Volume 56), pp. 155-171. Academic Press, San Diego, California. 6. Bastiaans, Ehud (2004), Life after ibogaine. Online at http://www.ibogaine.desk.nl/ibogaine_udi_bastiaans.pdf [Accessed on 3/29/2011] Read More