3 ms·

Potent psychedelic drug banishes PTSD, small study finds

19 points by EA-3167 3y ago

cranberryturkey 3y ago
more studies should be done.
- EA-3167 3y ago
  Absolutely, these kind of preliminary results need replication to be believed, but I'm reminded of the early days when MDMA was touted as a treatment for PTSD. Happily that's since held up to scrutiny. I hope the delay with Ibogaine isn't as long as it was for MDMA.
  - GuB-42 3y ago
    Ibogaine is not a party drug like MDMA, it is not considered addictive, and is often an unpleasant experience. In fact, it may even have anti-addiction properties. So, probably easier to get a pass. On the other hand, it doesn't look good from a toxicity standpoint, several people have died from it. It doesn't mean it can't work as treatment, after all, Tylenol can be deadly, but it may take some time to assess the risks. Also, it is notoriously hard to predict the effects of psychedelics, which can be a problem for designing a treatment.
    - brnaftr361 3y ago
      I've never been wholly convinced that such a treatment merits design or engineering, beyond implicit safety rails and dose optimization - even then there are instances where the bumpers had ought to be removed entirely. It has however been quite some long time since I read on ibogaine, and if I recall correctly the effects lasted three days, which would indeed merit some check-in.
    - more_corn 3y ago
      The heart problems probably make it a non-starter.
rendx 3y ago
From Wikipedia: "Anecdotal reports concerning ibogaine's effects appeared in the early 1960s. [...] In 1992, Eric Taub brought ibogaine to an offshore location close to the United States, where he began providing treatments and popularizing its use. [...] The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) began funding clinical studies of ibogaine in the United States in the early 1990s, but terminated the project in 1995. Data demonstrating ibogaine's efficacy in attenuating opioid withdrawal in drug-dependent human subjects was published by Alper et al. in 1999. [...] Ibogaine treatment clinics have emerged in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, and New Zealand, all operating in what has been described as a "legal gray area"" A number of documentaries exist around it too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibogaine#Documentary_films https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibogaine#Documentary_films
Pine_Mushroom 3y ago
I've taken ibogaine/iboga root numerous times, and it is very difficult for me to see it ever being legalized. I'm not really keeping my eyes on the scene much lately, but more than just a few people have died from ibogaine. The amount required for the 3 days in bed 'flood dose' is actually rather toxic and hard on the system, even if you are otherwise healthy. It certainly can work for opiate addiction, major depression, but the risks may outweigh the benefits in many cases.

19 points by EA-3167 3y ago

cranberryturkey 3y ago

more studies should be done.

EA-3167 3y ago
Absolutely, these kind of preliminary results need replication to be believed, but I'm reminded of the early days when MDMA was touted as a treatment for PTSD. Happily that's since held up to scrutiny. I hope the delay with Ibogaine isn't as long as it was for MDMA.
- GuB-42 3y ago
  Ibogaine is not a party drug like MDMA, it is not considered addictive, and is often an unpleasant experience. In fact, it may even have anti-addiction properties. So, probably easier to get a pass. On the other hand, it doesn't look good from a toxicity standpoint, several people have died from it. It doesn't mean it can't work as treatment, after all, Tylenol can be deadly, but it may take some time to assess the risks. Also, it is notoriously hard to predict the effects of psychedelics, which can be a problem for designing a treatment.
  - brnaftr361 3y ago
    I've never been wholly convinced that such a treatment merits design or engineering, beyond implicit safety rails and dose optimization - even then there are instances where the bumpers had ought to be removed entirely. It has however been quite some long time since I read on ibogaine, and if I recall correctly the effects lasted three days, which would indeed merit some check-in.
  - more_corn 3y ago
    The heart problems probably make it a non-starter.

rendx 3y ago

From Wikipedia: "Anecdotal reports concerning ibogaine's effects appeared in the early 1960s. [...] In 1992, Eric Taub brought ibogaine to an offshore location close to the United States, where he began providing treatments and popularizing its use. [...] The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) began funding clinical studies of ibogaine in the United States in the early 1990s, but terminated the project in 1995. Data demonstrating ibogaine's efficacy in attenuating opioid withdrawal in drug-dependent human subjects was published by Alper et al. in 1999. [...] Ibogaine treatment clinics have emerged in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, and New Zealand, all operating in what has been described as a "legal gray area"" A number of documentaries exist around it too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibogaine#Documentary_films https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibogaine#Documentary_films

Pine_Mushroom 3y ago

I've taken ibogaine/iboga root numerous times, and it is very difficult for me to see it ever being legalized. I'm not really keeping my eyes on the scene much lately, but more than just a few people have died from ibogaine. The amount required for the 3 days in bed 'flood dose' is actually rather toxic and hard on the system, even if you are otherwise healthy. It certainly can work for opiate addiction, major depression, but the risks may outweigh the benefits in many cases.