Ibogaine causes QT interval prolongation for a short period of time.
"But, you know, it it prolongs the QT quite a bit for a very short period of time." (said at 0:19:58)
The claim is partially accurate but requires qualification. Ibogaine consistently causes clinically significant QT/QTc interval prolongation (often exceeding 500 ms, with average increases near 95 ms) by blocking hERG potassium channels. However, describing this prolongation as occurring for a "very short period of time" is misleading: while the parent drug's peak effect occurs acutely, QTc prolongation frequently persists beyond 24 hours and can last for several days due to slow clearance and the formation of its active metabolite, noribogaine.
- context: Safety of ibogaine administration in detoxification of opioid-dependent individuals: a des… (Addiction (Abingdon, England) 2022)
"The maximum QTc (Fridericia) prolongation was on average 95ms (range 29-146ms). Fifty percent of subjects reached a QTc of over 500ms during the observation period. In six out 14 subjects prolongation above 450ms lasted beyond 24 hours after ingestion of ibogaine." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - context: The adverse events of ibogaine in humans: an updated systematic review of the literature (… (Psychopharmacology 2022)
"The adverse events were classified in acute effects (< 24 h), mainly cardiac (the most common was QTc prolongation), gastrointestinal, neurological, and clinical alterations, and long-lasting effects (> 24 h), mainly persistent cardiac alterations, psychiatric, and neurological signs." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - supports: Rare but relevant: Ibogaine and cardiovascular complications-prolonged QT interval and ven… (Addiction (Abingdon, England) 2026)
"however, ibogaine presents a rare yet clinically significant cardiotoxic risk: QTc prolongation and potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias such as Torsades des Pointes." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)