Frequently asked questions

A psychoactive alkaloid from the root bark of the African iboga shrub, best known for its reported ability to interrupt opioid withdrawal and quiet craving for weeks after a single dose.

Not quite. Iboga is the plant; ibogaine is one purified alkaloid extracted from it. Clinical settings use measured doses of pharmaceutical-grade ibogaine, which allows precise dosing — something raw bark cannot offer.

It is psychoactive, but different in kind: it acts on a much broader set of brain targets, produces a long dream-like life review rather than classic psychedelic effects, and leaves behind a metabolite that keeps working for weeks. You remain aware and oriented throughout.

No. The accurate word is interrupt: it can switch off withdrawal and open a window of reduced craving. What happens in that window — aftercare, environment, support — decides the long-term outcome. Anyone promising a cure is overselling.

Most-studied: opioid dependence. Also used for alcohol and stimulant dependence, and — with growing research attention — PTSD, trauma, and treatment-resistant depression. Many people come simply because a pattern in their life won't move.

People with heart conditions or rhythm abnormalities, certain daily medications, severe liver or kidney impairment, a history of psychosis, and pregnancy. These exclusions exist because ibogaine affects the heart's electrical rhythm — screening is the whole game. See the Eligibility page.

It complicates timing but doesn't automatically rule you out. Long-acting opioids interact badly with ibogaine protocols, so responsible clinics transition you to short-acting opioids over a period first. Be wary of anyone who says 'come as you are.'

The acute experience lasts roughly 24 hours, but a responsible program runs about a week: screening and preparation, the session, and several supervised recovery days before travel.

Fentanyl complicates both the pharmacology and the timing, and most published research predates the fentanyl era. Experienced providers have adapted protocols, but this is exactly the kind of case where provider quality matters most — ask directly about their fentanyl protocol.

Ibogaine affects heart rhythm and has caused deaths — almost always where screening was absent, heart conditions went undetected, or other drugs were still in the system. With rigorous screening and continuous monitoring the risk drops substantially, but it never reaches zero.

A 12-lead ECG, blood work covering electrolytes and liver and kidney function, full medication and substance disclosure, and a medical history review by a licensed clinician with the authority to say no.

A licensed physician, continuous cardiac monitoring that extends beyond the acute experience, IV access, emergency equipment, staff trained in resuscitation, and a realistic hospital plan. Protocols should align with GITA guidelines.

Because the active metabolite, noribogaine, remains in the body for days to weeks and continues to affect heart rhythm. The medical episode is longer than the experiential one.

It varies completely by country: prohibited in the US and much of Europe, a prescription medicine in New Zealand, and unregulated in countries like Mexico and Costa Rica, where most treatment actually happens. See the Legal Status page for the full picture.

Programs typically run $5,000–$25,000+ USD for a multi-day stay including medical care, depending on medical intensity. Very cheap offers usually mean the safety infrastructure has been cut — see the Cost page for what drives the price.

Ask precise questions and listen for precise answers: who screens, what monitoring runs during dosing, how they handle methadone and fentanyl, what aftercare actually includes, and who they refuse. Our Choosing a Provider guide gives you the full checklist.

Almost never — ibogaine is unapproved, so treatment is essentially always self-funded. Budget for travel and aftercare as well as the program fee.

No. We are an independent information and placement service. We don't provide treatment and we aren't a telehealth service. Providers pay us a placement fee when we refer someone they accept — you pay us nothing, we publish our vetting standard, and we decline providers who fail it.

A person reads it, usually within one business day. We take your case to the providers we think can handle it, describe your medical picture before we describe you, and come back within three business days with the ones who confirmed they can take you. If nobody fits, we tell you that instead of stretching to find someone.

No — and be suspicious of any website that does. Final suitability is always determined by a licensed physician through proper screening. What we can give you is the evidence, straight, and the right questions to ask.