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Ibogaine — Compound Profile

Ibogaine

2D structure of Ibogaine (C20H26N2O) — source: PubChem CID 197060
2D structure of Ibogaine (C20H26N2O) — source: PubChem CID 197060

Chemistry

  • CID: 197060 · PubChem
  • Formula: C20H26N2O
  • Molecular weight: 310.4 g/mol
  • IUPAC: (1R,15R,17S,18S)-17-ethyl-7-methoxy-3,13-diazapentacyclo[13.3.1.02,10.04,9.013,18]nonadeca-2(10),4(9),5,7-tetraene
  • CAS: 83-74-9

Family & pharmacology

Family: Indole alkaloid (ibogamine-type)

Pharmacological class: NMDA receptor antagonist; kappa-opioid receptor agonist; sigma-2 receptor agonist; serotonin transporter inhibitor (SERT); nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. Preclinical data also indicate upregulation of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which may underlie reported neuroplastic effects in animal models.

Natural source: Ibogaine is the principal psychoactive alkaloid in the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, a perennial understory shrub native to the rainforests of Gabon, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo. The root bark contains a complex of 12 or more iboga alkaloids; ibogaine typically constitutes 10–20 % of total alkaloid content.

Historical context

Ibogaine was first isolated in 1901 by French pharmacologists Dybowski and Landrin from Tabernanthe iboga, two years after iboga root bark was exhibited at the Paris Exposition. Its full chemical structure was determined in 1958, followed by the first total synthesis by Büchi et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1958). Western pharmaceutical interest peaked in the 1960s when it was briefly marketed in France as Lambarène — a stimulant tonic — before being withdrawn from the market.

Modern addiction-interruption research traces to self-experimenter Howard Lotsof, who in 1962 observed that a single session appeared to interrupt his heroin use and filed the first treatment patents in the 1980s. Alper et al. (Alkaloids 1999, PMID 10332749) published a systematic review of 33 cases, establishing ibogaine's profile in the clinical literature.

Traditional use — Bwiti ceremony

  • Central to the Bwiti initiation rite of the Mitsogo and Fang peoples of Gabon and Cameroon, where large doses of root bark are consumed over multi-day initiation ceremonies
  • Considered a sacrament that enables contact with ancestral spirits; the full initiatory dose is taken once in a lifetime in traditional contexts
  • Smaller doses are used in ongoing Bwiti ritual practice, notably as a collective stimulant during all-night ceremonies (ngoze)
  • Listed as part of the UNESCO-recognized Bwiti intangible cultural heritage of Gabon (2008)

Modern research context

Contemporary clinical interest centres on ibogaine's reported ability to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and craving in a single session. Noller et al. (Subst Abuse 2018, PMID 29869598) found significant reductions in opioid use scores 12 months after treatment in a New Zealand open-label study (n=14). A Stanford retrospective (Nat Med 2023, PMID 36905680) of military veterans reported substantial reductions in PTSD, depression, and anxiety scales.

Mechanistically, the multi-receptor profile — including BDNF upregulation, NMDA antagonism, and kappa-opioid activity — distinguishes ibogaine from single-target pharmacotherapies. It is actively investigated at MAPS, NYU, and the Universidade Federal Fluminense.

Safety

Ibogaine carries a well-documented cardiac risk: QT interval prolongation that can trigger fatal ventricular arrhythmia (Torsades de Pointes). Litjens & Brunt (Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2016, PMID 26284997) reviewed 19 ibogaine-related fatalities; most involved pre-existing cardiac conditions or concomitant substances. Medical screening (ECG, electrolytes) and cardiac monitoring during administration are considered standard of care in clinical research settings. Ibogaine is not suitable for self-administration.

Legal status in Germany

Ibogaine is not listed in the Narcotics Act (BtMG, Anlagen I–III) or the New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG) as of 2026. Possession and purchase of the compound are not prohibited under substance law. However, ibogaine has no medicinal approval (Arzneimittelgesetz / AMG), meaning it cannot be prescribed or administered therapeutically by healthcare providers in Germany. The distinction between legal possession and unlicensed medical use is critical. See the full analysis in Iboga Legal Status in Germany & Europe 2026.

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