Inhibitory effects of ibogaine on cocaine self-administration in rats.

A single injection of ibogaine (40 mg/kg) in rats significantly reduced cocaine self-administration for more than 48 hours. Because ibogaine's half-life is short, one or more of its active metabolites may be responsible. Repeated ibogaine doses over three consecutive days also decreased cocaine intake, and the strongest effect came from weekly injections for three weeks. These findings suggest ibogaine or its metabolites can produce a long-lasting interruption of cocaine dependence, consistent with uncontrolled clinical observations.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In order to determine the potential anti-addictive properties of ibogaine, we used the cocaine self-administration model in rats. The results indicate that a single injection of ibogaine (40 mg/kg i.p.) produced a significant decrease of cocaine intake, which remained unaltered for more than 48 h. Since the half-life time of ibogaine is short, this might suggest the involvement of one or several active metabolites of ibogaine in cocaine intake. Repetitive administration of ibogaine on three consecutive days also induced a pronounced decrease of cocaine intake. However, a more prominent inhibitory effect on cocaine intake was observed in animals treated repeatedly with ibogaine (40 mg/kg i.p.), once each week for 3 consecutive weeks. These results indicate that ibogaine or its metabolite(s) is a long-lasting interruptor of cocaine dependence, which supports similar observations from uncontrolled clinical studies.