Frequently Asked Questions

Before receiving ibogaine, you must switch from buprenorphine to a short-acting opioid like morphine to avoid serious complications and ensure the treatment is effective. Buprenorphine is a long-acting partial opioid agonist with an exceedingly long half-life. This factor poses significant risks when combined with ibogaine. Long-acting opioids like buprenorphine are stored securely in the body's fat tissues for extended periods. These drugs don’t just affect brain receptors—they can remain in your body for weeks or even longer. We need to ensure that no buprenorphine is still present in your body before proceeding with an ibogaine treatment program. 

We switch you to morphine to keep you comfortable and out of withdrawal until we are sure the body has eliminated the buprenorphine. Unfortunately, there are no good studies to know how long this takes. Based on experience within the ibogaine community, we recommend 3 months on morphine. 

The dangers of combining ibogaine and buprenorphine

• Precipitated  withdrawal:     Buprenorphine can remain in the body for several weeks, during which it continues to block opioid receptors. Imagine that ibogaine is given while buprenorphine remains active in the system. In that case, the ibogaine cannot fully bind to the receptors. It may trigger a sudden and severe      precipitated withdrawal. Symptoms of precipitated withdrawal include rapid      onset of body aches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. 
• Reduced effectiveness of ibogaine: Buprenorphine's presence can also interfere with the core mechanism of ibogaine, which works by resetting the brain's opioid receptors. The lingering buprenorphine can prevent ibogaine from reaching all the receptors it needs to, resulting in continued withdrawal symptoms after treatment.
• Cardiac risks: Both ibogaine and buprenorphine can affect heart rhythms. Combining them may increase the risk of serious cardiac complications. There is a risk of dangerous arrythmia known to prolong the QT interval, which can lead to life-threatening heart arrhythmias. 

• Phase 1: Morphine initiation. You stop taking buprenorphine and begin a medically supervised regimen of a short-acting opioid like morphine sulfate. You will have a full medical consultation before  initiation to address all medical issues or questions you may have  regarding this process. 
• Phase 2: Morphine maintenance. The duration of the maintenance phase remains unclear due to the lack of  scientific research. Urine and blood tests have not been a reliable indicator to guide treatment duration. The time required for full  clearance varies based on age, body habitus, dosage, duration of      medication use, metabolism, and other unknown factors. We recommend 3 months  for full and assured clearance of all buprenorphine.
• Phase 3: Medical clearance. After finishing the pre-ibogaine  morphine protocol and receiving medical clearance, you can proceed to treatment.      

Some people can start the protocol if they have been stable at 8mg of Buprenorphine for a while. Ideally, it would be easier on you to be at 4mg before the changeover. Buprenorphine is much stronger than morphine, and to make the transition comfortable, a lower dose of Buprenorphine is ideal. 

You need to detox off methadone before ibogaine as well. You would need to wean down to 10mg of methadone before we could switch you to morphine. Most ibogaine clinics require 1-2 months of morphine before ibogaine for safety reasons. 

I have a lot of experience in weaning patients off Buprenorphine. Specific tactics and individualized plans available through consultation. It can be done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!