Also known as Iboga (the plant source), Noribogaine (its main metabolite), 18-MC (a related research compound)
At a glance
- Type
- Plant alkaloid from the root bark of the iboga shrub, native to West Central Africa. Has psychedelic and dissociative effects.
- How it acts
- Acts on many brain systems at once. Its exact mechanism is unclear.
- Approved uses
- None, anywhere in North America.
- Legal status
- Prescription Drug List in Canada since 2017, with no authorised product. Schedule I in the US.
- How it's given in research
- Usually a single oral dose with heart monitoring. Effects can last many hours.
- Strongest evidence
- None rated above Very low. The evidence is observational studies without control groups.
- Biggest risk
- Dangerous heart-rhythm problems. Deaths have been reported.
Evidence by condition
How strong the research is for each use, on our four-level evidence scale.
Two small observational studies (30 and 14 people) reported reduced withdrawal and drug use after a single treatment. There were no control groups, and one participant died during treatment.
An open-label study of 30 male special forces veterans found improvements in daily functioning, PTSD, depression and anxiety a month after ibogaine given with magnesium. There was no control group.
What it is
Ibogaine is an alkaloid from the root bark of the iboga shrub, which has a long history of ceremonial use in West Central Africa.5 It’s chemically an indole, a relative of the tryptamine psychedelics. Its effects are unusually long-lasting, often many hours.
Interest in ibogaine for addiction comes from reports that a single treatment can ease opioid withdrawal and craving. Animal studies support anti-addictive effects.4 Ibogaine isn’t licensed as a medicine anywhere in North America, but it’s offered in dozens of clinics worldwide.4
How it works in the brain
Unlike classic psychedelics, which mainly act on one receptor, ibogaine acts on many brain systems at once. The body converts it into noribogaine, which is also active and is being studied in its own right. Researchers don’t yet know which of these actions matter for treating addiction.
Scientists are also studying related compounds, such as 18-MC, that might keep the anti-addiction effects with less toxicity.4
Key studies
Opioid use disorder, 2018. In an observational study of 30 people with opioid dependence, withdrawal scores roughly halved within about three days of treatment, and 50% reported no opioid use in the month after. Improvements in drug use persisted, to a lesser degree, over 12 months.3 A second study followed 14 people in New Zealand, where ibogaine could be legally prescribed, for 12 months. It reported reduced drug use and depression among those who completed follow-up. One participant died during treatment.1
Veterans with brain injury, 2024. A Stanford-led study of 30 male special operations veterans, mostly with mild traumatic brain injury, gave ibogaine together with magnesium, which is intended to protect the heart. One month later, participants showed large improvements in daily functioning, PTSD, depression and anxiety.2
Safety and risks reported in research
The biggest known risk is to the heart. Ibogaine can cause dangerous heart-rhythm disturbances, and reports of life-threatening complications and sudden deaths have accumulated.4 A review of every known death outside West Central Africa from 1990 to 2008 found 19 people who died within 1.5 to 76 hours of taking ibogaine. Where there was enough data, 12 of 14 deaths involved existing medical problems, mainly heart disease, or other drugs. Seizures during withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines were another risk factor.5
Legal and regulatory status
- Canada: Not listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, but added to Health Canada’s Prescription Drug List in 2017 after reports of serious and fatal reactions. No ibogaine product is authorised for sale.6
- United States: Schedule I.8 In 2025, Texas committed up to $50 million to FDA-authorised clinical trials, led by UTHealth Houston.7
- Elsewhere: Rules vary widely. It has been legally prescribable in New Zealand,1 and clinics operate in several countries with little regulation.4
History in brief
- Traditional use: Iboga root bark used ceremonially in West Central Africa.5
- 1990–2008: 19 deaths linked to ibogaine documented outside Africa.5
- 2017: Canada adds ibogaine to the Prescription Drug List.6
- 2018: Two observational studies in opioid use disorder published.13
- 2024: Stanford-led veterans study published in Nature Medicine.2
- 2025: Texas funds up to $50 million in ibogaine clinical trials.7
Myths vs evidence
The claim“Ibogaine cures addiction in a single treatment.”
What the evidence says Unproven
Small observational studies report reduced withdrawal and drug use after one treatment. In one, 50% of participants reported no opioid use at one month.3 But there are no randomised controlled trials, and many participants weren't followed up. It's a promising lead, not a proven cure.
The claim“Treatment at an ibogaine clinic abroad is safe because it's medical.”
What the evidence says Misleading
The claim“Ibogaine is legal in Canada because it isn't a controlled drug.”
What the evidence says Misleading
Ibogaine isn't listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. But since 2017 it has been on Health Canada's Prescription Drug List, added because of serious and fatal adverse reactions. No ibogaine product is authorised for sale in Canada.6
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between iboga and ibogaine?
Iboga is the shrub. Its root bark has long been used in traditional ceremonies in West Central Africa. Ibogaine is the main active compound extracted from it. Research uses purified ibogaine so the dose can be measured.
Why is ibogaine riskier than other psychedelics?
Mainly because of the heart. Ibogaine can disrupt the heart's electrical rhythm, which can be fatal, especially in people with existing heart disease or those using other substances. The long duration of its effects also makes medical monitoring harder.
What is 18-MC?
18-MC (18-methoxycoronaridine) is a lab-made compound related to ibogaine. It's being studied because it may keep some of ibogaine's anti-addiction effects with less toxicity. It is still experimental.
Is anyone running proper trials?
Yes. In 2025, Texas committed up to $50 million to fund FDA-authorised clinical trials of ibogaine, aimed at opioid use disorder and other conditions. These are among the first large, controlled studies planned. Talk to a qualified health professional about your own situation.
Clinical trials
- Trifecta Research StudyActive, not recruiting · N/A · PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cognitive Dysfunction · United States
- Pre-post Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Ibogaine-Magnesium Therapy in Veterans With Repeated Blast ExposureActive, not recruiting · N/A · Blast or Combat Exposure, Head Injury Trauma · United States
Showing 2 of 2 active trials in our tracker.
See all trials in the tracker →
References
- Noller GE, Frampton CM, Yazar-Klosinski B. Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):37–46. Source
- Cherian KN, et al. Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Nature Medicine. 2024;30(2):373–381. Source
- Brown TK, Alper K. Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):24–36. Source
- Koenig X, Hilber K. The anti-addiction drug ibogaine and the heart: a delicate relation. Molecules. 2015;20(2):2208–2228. Source
- Alper KR, Stajić M, Gill JR. Fatalities temporally associated with the ingestion of ibogaine. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2012;57(2):398–412. Source
- Health Canada. Notice: Prescription Drug List (PDL): multiple additions. May 19, 2017. Source
- Texas Tribune. Texas to conduct its own ibogaine clinical trials. March 31, 2026. Source
- US Drug Enforcement Administration. Controlled substances: alphabetical order. Source