Ibogaine for Opioid Withdrawal

Since 1962, ibogaine has been known to dramatically reduce the withdrawal symptoms and accumulated tolerance to opioids. It remains unlike anything else in its ability to provide a strong and significant therapeutic window after treatment. Patients find a dramatically increased comfort during the withdrawal period, as well as an acceleration of therapeutic insights.

At Anzelmo we work with some of the most experienced medical professionals and therapy providers in the field to provide the most comfortable, natural and humane treatment possible. We also provide a number of supportive modalities including psychotherapy, integration coaching, body work, yoga, nutritional planning, and others so that you can make the most of the beneficial time following treatment.

Opioids have similar effects and can lead to chemical dependency whether they are used recreational or medically. While many people find the effect of opioids to be unpleasant, many others find that it acts as a powerful supplement to the body’s endorphins, it’s natural painkillers. It was developed for this purpose in medical settings, particularly to deal with acute physical trauma. People who use opioids often find that it reduces psychological as well as physical pain.

Regular use of heroin can lead to habituation, which can cause desensitization of dopamine receptors, and depending on the frequency and quantity used, can lead to significant discomfort when attempting to slow or stop use. Some people find that when the underlying psychological or physical symptoms are resolved, or when significant time has passed that these issues become easier to deal with, they are able to stop their use and deal with any residual discomfort. Others, however, find it extremely difficult to stop or to control their use.

It can take some time for the body to adapt and re-acclimatize itself to these changes, and withdrawal and cravings afterwards can become a major barrier for change, even for people whose opioid use has led to negative consequences affecting many other areas of their lives.

Many people who take opioids for medical or recreational reasons find that they are eventually able to stop their use, despite the discomfort of withdrawal. However, for others, withdrawal and the prospect of cravings afterward present a significant barrier.

Ibogaine works by desensitizing dopamine receptors, and stimulating the repair and growth of dopaminergic neurons, the system directly affected by opioid use. This can significantly reduce short-term opioid withdrawal symptoms, and by dramatically reducing any accumulated tolerance to opioids it makes the body’s auto-regulation of dopamine much more efficient, decreasing short and long-term cravings.

For these reasons, many people who have used ibogaine found it much more efficient and comfortable compared with cold-turkey withdrawal or other detox methods. However, ibogaine is not a magic bullet or a ‘cure’ for addiction. It helps to facilitate a shift not only in physical dependency but also to some degree a new awareness about our bodies and our behavior patterns.

For people who have continued to use opioids despite the accumulation of negative consequences, there is often more than just a chemical dependency in play. 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.

Treatment for medications like methadone and suboxone is slightly complicated by the long half-life of each of these medications. Prior to arriving at Anzelmo, we require that long-acting opioid patients stabilize on a short-acting opioid, such as morphine, for a period sufficient for the majority of long-acting opioids to be metabolized. This period varies depending on the medication, duration, and dose.

We can provide guidance during this switch over and assist with regimen planning. We are happy to discuss this information with your medical professional, or to send over documentation and resources, as needed. For those who are unable to receive a prescription locally, we can provide or recommend medically supervised switchover services.

Please note: The switchover period is designed to provide a basic level of comfort and avoid serious complications such as entering full-blown withdrawal in the days after ibogaine treatment. We highly recommend that, if possible, more time is taken to prepare for treatment. The benefits is that many people who are on long-acting opioid maintenance programs have relatively stabilized use. Taking the opportunity to work on lowering the dose, undergoing a longer switchover, and making aftercare arrangements prior to arriving all can all help to maximize the comfort of your treatment.

It is our experience that even with the recommended duration here, coming off of long-acting opioids can lead to some level of post-acute withdrawals and other symptoms after treatment, even though these are dramatically reduced from what you would face without ibogaine. This is part of the reason that we recommend our 10-day program for opioid patients.

Call now to discuss this information, and your particular treatment situation with one of our professional intake coordinators. They will be able to guide you regarding specifics of your treatment preparation.