The Iboga Therapy House provides ibogaine-assisted therapy for addiction and dependance to substances such as heroin, methadone and other opiates, cocaine, crack, and alcohol.

Our program is based on a holistic and innovative health promotion, harm reduction and resiliency model that fosters support in a non-judgmental atmosphere aimed at empowering people to improve their quality of life. Support and assistance is provided to participants through the detoxification phase 24 hours a day throughout the 5 day program.

Program

The detoxification therapy program generally begins on a Monday and ends Friday though it may be longer for high-dose methadone dependent individuals.

On the first day you are introduced to the facility and staff, complete intake questionnaires, and have the opportunity to ask questions about what you may expect from your ibogaine experience. You are given time to prepare yourself for the experience with activities such as selecting music, creating art, reading, meditating, or stretching.

After the required pre-ibogaine monitoring period a baseline vitals check is performed: blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. Period of monitoring before the therapy is 24 hours for methadone users, 12 hours for users of heroin, other short acting opiates, cocaine and crack.

We administer a test dose of 100mg ibogaine HCl orally in capsule form to test for allergic reaction. Vital signs are checked for hour after the test dose. If there is no allergic reaction to this initial dose of ibogaine, the remainder of the full dose is given one hour later.

The Iboga Therapy House administers a dose of 16-22 mg/kg orally in capsule form taking into account factors such as severity of addiction and the substance(s) from which a participant is detoxifying. For example, a high-dose methadone-dependent participant may receive a dose of ibogaine in the 19-22 mg/kg range with the potential for a small booster dose given 1 or 2 days after the initial dose, while a low-dose heroin-dependent participant may receive a dose in the 16-19 mg/kg range only once.

Effects begin 45 minutes to 3 hours after administration. The entire experience may last between 24-36 hours. During the session, you are continuously supported and monitored by experienced, supportive, and caring facilitators. An Emergency Medical Technician ( EMT: 1st Aid Level 3) or Registered Nurse is present in case of an emergency.

The EMT is present to observe, monitor vital signs and to provide care in case of a medical emergency. Pulse and blood pressure are monitored continuously every half hour for the first eight hours or until stable, and then at 1 hour time points thereafter.

As ibogaine causes unsteadiness, light sensitivity, and sometimes nausea, this period is usually spent lying down in a quiet, darkened room, and you have the option of listening to preselected music or music of your choice.

Facilitators provide support throughout the experience. The facilitators are available to talk, sit quietly, provide reassurance during the experience and/or simple bodywork. Ibogaine may affect short term changes in memory recall and induce a relatively more internal process and some participants might prefer to be left to have the experience with minimal interaction until the majority of effects have subsided.

After the first two phases of effects (generally there are 3 phases) have finished, you will enter into the final stage of residual stimulation. In this phase, ibogaine therapy returns to the more commonly used model of therapeutic integrative work, and the facilitators or therapist actively work with you to help process the material. As ibogaine can catalyze a powerful and sometimes profound effect on consciousness, the facilitators may provide support through dialogue if needed and/or healing modalities such as Reiki (a non-contact form of body/energy-work) and massage if requested. The facilitators' role is to provide a safe, attentive, therapeutic, and compassionate atmosphere.

The remainder of the stay is for rest and integration. Instruction in light stretching or yoga is available, as are soothing baths, massage, walks, and other therapeutic activities such as creating art relating to the experience. The staff is active in facilitating discussion about the experience and about integrating healthy factors into one's life in various ways through goal setting and lifestyle changes. It is understood that taking the time to reflect on the ibogaine experience is a necessary part of the healing process after ibogaine.

Information for those thinking of taking Ibogaine from Ibogaine.co.uk

Ibogaine Patients' Bill of Rights on the Dora Weiner Foundation website.

Ibogaine in the Treatment of Chemical Dependence Disorders: Clinical Perspectives by H.S. Lotsof

Life after Ibogaine: An exploratory study of the long-term effects of ibogaine treatment on drug addicts by Ehud Bastiaans

Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutic Applications of Iboga and Ibogaine By Robert Goutarel, Otto Gollnhofer and Roger Sillans

Ibogaine Treatment page on the Ibogaine Dossier