The adverse events of ibogaine in humans: an updated systematic review of the literature (2015-2020).
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Systematic review of primarily case reports and uncontrolled observational studies
PubMed 34406452 · doi:10.1007/s00213-021-05964-y
What was done
The authors conducted a PRISMA-compliant systematic review of literature published between 2015 and 2020 evaluating adverse events and fatalities associated with ibogaine and noribogaine administration in humans.
What was found
Eighteen studies were included. Formulations and dosages across the studies were highly heterogeneous. Reported adverse events were categorized into acute effects (<24 hours)—predominantly cardiac (most frequently QTc prolongation), gastrointestinal, neurological, and clinical alterations—and long-lasting effects (>24 hours), mainly consisting of persistent cardiac alterations, psychiatric symptoms, and neurological signs. The abstract reports no quantitative event rates or fatality counts.
Why it matters
Ibogaine is investigated for anti-addictive properties, but unregulated use carries documented safety risks. This review highlights cardiotoxicity (specifically QTc prolongation) as a primary acute and persistent risk, underscoring the necessity of standardized dosing and safety screening in formal phase I trials.
Limits
The underlying literature consists predominantly of case reports and studies conducted in uncontrolled settings, preventing reliable determination of causality or true incidence rates. Products, formulations, and doses varied widely across reports. The abstract does not provide the total number of human subjects or quantified risk estimates.
Cited by
- context Ibogaine causes QT interval prolongation for a short period of time.