Treating Depression, Anxiety & Trauma With Ibogaine

While ibogaine can be used to treat alcohol cravings and many of the protracted side effects after you stop drinking, particularly because of its activity on the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system, alcohol does have some effects on the GABA system which ibogaine does not address. For those who are at risk of serious withdrawal symptoms, especially seizures, ibogaine is unable to address the acute withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. In order to avoid these complications we require that our patients are able to stop the use of alcohol completely at least 5 days prior to arriving at Anzelmo.

In cases where there is serious risk of withdrawals a medically supervised switchover onto benzodiazepines should be arranged. Benzodiazepines work exclusively on the gabinergic system, relieving the risk of seizure, but avoiding any interaction with ibogaine during treatment. Either the switchover and taper can be completed prior to arrival, or the switchover can be completed and the benzodiazepine dosage continued throughout the ibogaine treatment and tapered later when the seizure risk has abated.

We can provide any further guidance about this prior to treatment, and we are happy to discuss this information with your medical professional, as needed.

Ibogaine has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and the long-term effects of trauma in some people. For some people these effects can be lasting, for others they provide a temporary relief or profound insight into the conditions that contribute to their state and potential ways of living and coping with it.

At Anzelmo we work with a number of adjunct modalities, discussing other supportive strategies that can support through the acute period after ibogaine and provide access to other services such as aftercare recommendations and ibogaine coaching services that can be supportive in retraining the body and the mind in new strategies.

Many people deal with chronic pain or discomfort, whether that is physical, emotional, or psychological. The body in this case has learned to use opioids as a response to any signal of distress, and often doesn’t know other strategies for regulating those experiences.

At Anzelmo we work with a number of adjunct modalities, discussing other supportive strategies that can support through the acute period after ibogaine and provide access to other services such as aftercare recommendations and ibogaine coaching services that can be supportive in retraining the body and the mind in new strategies.