Ibogaine Treatments
Opioid use, both short-term and long-term, can develop into an addiction. Many people abuse opioids for pain relief or for the feeling of pleasure they can get. Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of the high risk of developing an addiction, and they end up in a bad spot, requiring detoxification and long-term treatment.
Over time, a lot of opioid addiction treatments have been researched and approved. People who go to rehabilitation centers have the benefit of receiving the best treatment from trained and experienced professionals. The doctors will prescribe medications to help decrease cravings and withdrawals, and patients can also go to therapy to treat potential mental health issues.
Ibogaine is one of the medications that was considered for opioid addiction treatment, but it was never approved by the FDA. This is because, despite its few benefits, it can be quite dangerous and needs more research.
What is Ibogaine?
Ibogaine is a psychedelic substance extracted from a Western African shrub. It can be found in the root of the Tabernanthe iboga. Ibogaine is hallucinogenic, and if people use it in larger doses, they may deal with powerful psychedelic states.
In the past, ibogaine was used a lot in West Africa. It was an important part of initiation rituals and healing ceremonies in the Bwiti religion.
According to some research, smaller doses of ibogaine might be beneficial in decreasing opioid cravings and helping with opioid withdrawal. However, if it is used in larger amounts, it may result in hallucinations and strong psychedelic states. At the same time, nobody knows how the drug works exactly.
Some of the studies were done solely on animals. At the same time, some people died as a result of taking ibogaine. Therefore, the FDA did not approve the drug for medical use, and it is currently a Schedule I drug.
How It Works
Ibogaine is a substance that targets parts of the brain that are responsible for addictive behavior. It turns into noribogaine, which then targets these areas.
Opioid cravings and withdrawal will decrease after noribogaine reaches the brain. Therefore, to an extent, it may be effective against opioid addiction. But the substance is a cure for addiction, so if someone is dealing with a substance use disorder, using ibogaine will not magically treat the root of the problem.
So, if an individual is addicted to opioids and wants to make a full recovery, the key to achieving this goal is going through detox in a rehabilitation center. They also have to go through therapy.
Ibogaine may be used as a tool in detoxing, but the only thing it does is interrupt the abuse of opioids. More treatments will be required to actually get rid of the addiction.
Addiction To Opioids
Opioid addiction is a chronic disease that can affect someone’s life when it comes to their health, family, finances, and job. Opioids are very addictive drugs as they impact the nervous system so that it produces pain relief and euphoric feelings.
While some people are prescribed opioids by their doctors in order to deal with chronic and severe pain, others use them illegally. Opioids circulate in many forms, and heroin is perhaps one of the most popular ones. Meanwhile, opioids that are prescribed by doctors include buprenorphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, methadone, codeine, morphine oxymorphone, and hydrocodone.
People who take opioids frequently and for long periods are at risk of developing an addiction as tolerance builds over time. The drugs have both physical and psychological effects, and if we are talking about addiction, the risk of overdose is increased as well. Overdoses are some of the leading causes of death in the U.S.
Using Ibogaine For Opioid Addiction Treatment
According to some research, ibogaine may be effective in decreasing cravings for opioids and reducing the symptoms of withdrawal. However, it was not approved by the FDA, and there is a good reason for that.
Even though research has shown promising results, it was nowhere enough to approve it for medical use. Howard Lotsoff used the substance in 1986 to treat his heroin addiction, after which he started working with medical experts from Europe in order to develop cocaine and opioid addiction treatment.
Later on, the clinical trials were stopped due to a lack of funds and the death of a patient who took ibogaine.
What’s more, in medical studies, the substance had a 50-80 percent success rate. These rates are not that great, especially considering that for long-term recovery, the rates will depend on the level of support and treatment people get after using ibogaine.
Risks of Using Ibogaine
Ibogaine’s status in the U.S. shows that it is an unregulated and untested drug. It can lead to many side effects – therefore, it poses a high risk for those who take it. There were reports of people dying as a result of ibogaine consumption.
There are some short-term side effects that may appear, while it is unsure whether long-term side effects exist as well. This is why using ibogaine comes with huge risks. These include:
- Heart issues
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Impaired muscle coordination and balance
- Death
Ibogaine is still being studied by researchers to determine the drug’s safe administration and the right dosages.
Call On Real Deal Therapy & Wellness For Help
Real Deal can help anyone who is dealing with opioid addiction or mental health problems associated with drug abuse. We take the situation of every patient seriously to make sure they make a complete recovery.
Not only do we offer a detoxification program, but we also provide therapy for anyone experiencing mental health issues. We focus on every relevant aspect so that we can help our patients get back to a normal life.
Overall, ibogaine may decrease withdrawal symptoms and cravings, but it comes with high risks, and it has not been approved by the FDA. To treat opioid addiction, you will have to go through other treatments. So, call on us to help you get rid of any addiction!