Does Ibogaine Interact with Serotonin?

When a substance sparks an interaction with the neurotransmitter known as serotonin, it can be described as having serotonergic properties. Whether the interaction results in an increase or decrease in serotonin levels doesn’t change its serotonergic nature, so we can say this is a way to refer to mechanisms of action that involve serotonin. All psychedelic substances are serotonergic. This property explains the euphoric effects felt by individuals who enter altered states of consciousness produced by hallucinations. Ibogaine is a complex serotonergic that has been compared to the popular antidepressant Prozac and has surprised pharmaceutical researchers who weren’t familiar with ibogaine at the time the Prozac patent for fluoxetine was filed in the late 1970s.

Serotonin & the Ibogaine Mechanism of Action

The serotonergic actions of ibogaine and noribogaine, the substance that results from metabolized ibogaine, are thought to produce therapeutic effects helpful for the treatment of addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. The complex mechanism of action isn’t fully understood, but it appears to elicit binding to various neuroreceptors in the brain. In recent years, some studies have suggested the binding effect inhibits the transport of serotonin in a manner that resembles selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac. In May 2022, the findings of a laboratory study conducted on mice suggested that noribogaine produced an effect very similar to those produced by various antidepressants, including Paxil, Lexapro, and Prozac.

Ibogaine & the Modulation of Serotonin

When ibogaine is consumed in oral form, several neurochemical reactions take place, and only a few of those reactions are understood well. Just a few years ago, neuroscientists believed ibogaine eliminated cravings for powerful painkillers and heroin because it blocked opioid receptors, but more recent research indicates ibogaine sends signals to the cells that transport serotonin from the gastrointestinal tract to the brain, with the instructions in these signals modulating the flow of serotonin through the prefrontal cortex, the limbic system, and the basal ganglia, which are the major components of the brain’s reward system.

Serotonin & Chemical Dependence

Psychoactive substances that flood the brain with serotonin often produce euphoric effects users describe as butterflies in their stomachs, and this makes sense because 90 percent of serotonin is produced by the gastrointestinal system. This flood effect is basically an imbalance of serotonin in the brain’s reward system. The basal ganglia gets too much of it and the extended amygdala doesn’t get enough, thus effectively creating a physical dependence.

The Use of Ibogaine for Addiction Recovery & Depression

It’s clear that changes in serotonin levels can play a significant role in the development and maintenance of addiction and substance dependence. A similar assertion can be made with regard to serotonin and depression, but only in patients whose diagnoses don’t suggest bipolar conditions. Ibogaine has thus far been observed to be rather effective at alleviating strong withdrawal effects related to nicotine, stimulants, and opioids. In patients who suffer from depression, small doses of ibogaine appear to be potentiators and activators for prescription antidepressants. Larger doses combined with talk therapy are more helpful for patients who live with post-traumatic stress.

Although research suggests ibogaine may help people stop using addictive substances, continuing therapy and rehabilitation are critical for long-term recovery. Ibogaine treatment may be a useful detoxification tool that interrupts the cycle of substance abuse and addiction, but to maintain long-lasting sobriety, people who receive the treatment will continue to need other forms of addiction treatment, such as behavioral therapy. For people who choose ibogaine treatment, Tijuana, Mexico, is one option where this type of treatment is offered legally.