This blog has so far been dedicated to ibogaine experiences; taken for a number of reasons and mostly the results have spoken volumes in terms of personal progress.
I recently received an email which prompted me to write a little on the topic of taking ibogaine. Most people who have had a psychedelic experience are quick to drop iboga into a similar category and think that it is some thing that can be done solo without complications. I dont want to scare people and possibly there are quite a few who have managed to self medicate successfully.
There are however many things that can go wrong if not properly planned and prepared where you would need assistance due to the side effects; also to get the dose right for your purposes.
Below is an excerpt from an email of someone who went ahead despite advice to the contrary:
you may not remember me but last spring I was trying to find a clinic I could afford using ibogaine, and in the end decided to drive to toronto canada and purchase iboga root and just administer it myself. You advised not.
I did anyway. The buzzing roar in the head at the beginning was unbelievable, completely takes you over, resistance is futile. That said, shortly after that it just stopped and I felt like I had ingested half a hit of blotter or tail end of psilocybin experience.
Two days later i just went cold turkey, dropped from 120mg of methadone a day to nothing. Then I showed up at a treatment center in full blown withdrawal and they admitted me. Anyhow, it has been five months now and I am still clean but the first 70 days were the worst thing I have ever been through physically and mentally. I made it through by maintaining my meditation practice even in the midst of agony.
Thanks for your assistance at that time. It did help. It steeled my resolve to kick this once and for all.
Although in this case things turned out for the better; most people dont have the mettle to see some thing as devastating as methadone withdrawal through to the end cold turkey.
Most people I have treated for opiate withdrawal have even found the side effects of the ibogaine a little difficult.
You need to be prepared; you need to have the right dose and a protocol that suits your specific needs or goals. I cant say this enough times. Ibogaine is not like LSD or Mushrooms; its not some thing you take for a light show and a kick; its serious business.
Even though I have had several experiences taking iboga or ibogaine it does not become easier; I still cant tolerate the bitter taste and cant say I really look forward to the experience its self all that much. Its the after effects that make it all worth the ordeal; for me at least.
Everyone is different and everyone reacts a little differently. Its valuable to have some one on board who can give you advice on taking iboga and it should be taken with assistance.
This is just a short note; I will add a screening process which will determine if you would be a suitable candidate for treatment or not. I hope this has been of some use. thanks and all the best for the coming new year.
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA
1. Subject participation must be voluntary and not coerced.
2. Subject must sign an Informed Consent that indicates and understanding of the risks and benefits of ibogaine administration.
3. Subject must undergo a general medical evaluation by a doctor who will provide a report.
4. Subject must supply a copy of their medical history questionnaire (generally required upon the intake visit to a physician) and a copy of the questionnaire provided by us.
5. Subject must respond to a Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire.
6. Subject must obtain an ECG and report.
7. Subject must sign a form stating that they have not taken any narcotic analgesics, cocaine, amphetamines or alcohol for the last 12 hours before arriving and that they have none of these substances in their possession.
8. Blood tests including:
* albumin: 3.9 to 5.0 mg/dl
* alkaline phosphatase: 44 to 147 IU/L
* ALT (SGPT): 6 to 59 IU/L
* AST (SGOT): 10 to 34 IU/L
* BUN: 7 to 20 mg/dl
* calcium - serum: 8.5 to 10.9 mg/dl
* serum chloride: 101 to 111 mmol/L
* CO2: 20 to 29 mmol/L
* creatinine: 0.8 to 1.4 mg/dl
* direct bilirubin: 0.0 to 0.3 mg/dl
* gamma-GT: 0 to 51 IU/L
* glucose test: 64 to 128 mg/dl
* phosphorus - serum: 2.4 to 4.1 mg/dl
* potassium test: 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L
* serum sodium: 136 to 144 mEq/L
* total bilirubin: 0.2 to 1.9 mg/dl
* total protein: 6.3 to 7.9 g/dl
* uric acid: 4.1 to 8.8 mg/dl
* RBC (varies with altitude): (male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcl) (female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcl)
* WBC 4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcl
* hematocrit (varies with altitude): (male: 40.7 to 50.3 %) (female: 36.1 to 44.3 %)
* hemoglobin (varies with altitude): (male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dl) (female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dl)
9. Upon subject meeting all other inclusion criteria and not being excluded by exclusion criteria, subject will be administered a 100 mg (total) test dose of ibogaine. Should the subject not have an adverse or atypical response, a full therapeutic dose of ibogaine may be considered. See exclusion criteria #4.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
In order to begin to address the safety of persons being treated with ibogaine, the following indications should exclude treatment with ibogaine.
1. Patients with a history of active neurological or psychiatric disorders, such as cerebellar dysfunction, psychosis, bipolar illness, major depression, organic brain disease or dementia that requires treatment.
2. Patients who have a Beck Depression Inventory score greater than or equal to twenty-four.
3. Patients requiring concomitant medications that may cause adverse ibogaine/other drug interactions (e.g., anti-epileptic drugs, antidepressants, neuroleptics, etc.)
4. Patients with a history of sensitivity or adverse reactions to the treatment medication.
5. Patients with a history of significant heart disease or a history of myocardial infarction.
6. Patients with blood pressure above 170 mm Hg systolic/105 mm Hg diastolic or below 80 mm Hg systolic/60 mm Hg diastolic or a pulse greater than 120 beats per minute or less than 50 beats per minute.
7. Patients who have a history of hypertension uncontrolled by conventional medical therapy.
8. Patients who have received any drug known to have a well-defined potential for toxicity to a major organ system within the month prior to entering the study.
9. Patients who have clinically significant laboratory values outside the limits thus specified by normal laboratory parameters.
10. Patients who have any disease of the gastrointestinal system, liver or kidneys, or abnormal condition which compromises a function of these systems and could result in a possibility of altered metabolism or excretion of ibogaine will be excluded. As it is not possible to enumerate the many conditions that might impair absorption, metabolism or excretion, the provider should be guided by evidence such as:
A. History of major gastrointestinal tract surgery (e.g., gastrectomy, gastrostomy, bowel resections, etc.) or a history or diagnosis of an active peptic ulcer or chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract, (e.g. ulcerative )
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