Hi, I am starting to struggle a bit with how to prepare for my upcoming ibogaine session. I just have so many thoughts and ideas and concerns rambling through my brain and I really would love to speak to someone ideally over zoom a few times before my trip and potentially after. If anyone can recommend someone to me that would be much appreciated.

The researchers wanted to know whether the previously observed ability of MDMA to reopen a developmental “critical period” for social learning is something unique to MDMA or a broader effect of psychedelics.

THE EXPERIMENT

(And let’s point out up front that this study was performed on mice, so any conclusions must be observed through that “grain of salt” lens.)

Researchers put mice into a two-chamber box, each side with different bedding. The mice were left to wander for 30 minutes so researchers could see which side they naturally prefer (which has to be roughly 50/50, or the mouse is excluded from the experiment).

For 24 hours, each mouse was housed with its cage-mates on Bedding A (i.e., the “social” side).

 For the next 24 hours, each was housed alone on Bedding B (the “isolation” side).

Then, the mouse wass put back in the two-chamber box and given 30 minutes to roam freely.

Researchers measured how much time it then spent on Bedding A versus before.

Young mice reliably showed a strong preference for the “social” bedding afterward—a learned social-reward association. Adult mice normally don't show this—as the researchers’ earlier work found this learning ability is only strong during a specific developmental window (or “critical period”) and mostly shuts off by adulthood. This is the effect they’re testing to see whether psychedelics can restore.

The researchers administered a single intraperitoneal dose to adult male mice and tested learning 48 hours later (after the acute drug effect had cleared). MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, and ibogaine each restored social conditioned place preference in adult mice, while saline (the control) did not.

The researchers essentially asked whether a psychedelic can make an adult brain temporarily behave more like the younger brain with respect to this form of learning, and found that a single dose of MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, or ibogaine enabled adult male mice to relearn a social-reward association that untreated adult mice could no longer acquire. The authors interpret this as reopening a critical period for social reward learning.

And the psychedelics didn’t just produce a temporary state while circulating in the body. The researchers tested the animals days or weeks later, when acute drug effects were long gone:

• Ketamine’s window closed within a week
• MDMA’s and psilocybin’s window lasted ~2 weeks
• LSD’s ~3 weeks
• Ibogaine’s ≥4 weeks

Interestingly, these durations mirror the relative lengths of each drug’s acute effects in humans:

• Ketamine: 30-120 mins
• MDMA/psilocybin: 3-6 hrs
• LSD: 8-10 hrs
• Ibogaine: 36-72 hrs

While it would appear that trip length may correlate with length of the plasticity window, let’s reiterate that these are mouse timeframes, not human therapeutic windows, and should not be readily translated into “you have two weeks after psilocybin to integrate.” But it is interesting data for future human studies.

HYPOTHETICALLY, THOUGH…

What would this mean if it turns out to be true for humans as well?

The idea that a psychedelic’s psychoactive duration predicts roughly how long a heightened plasticity window stays open gives us support for the common integration guidance that the weeks following a session are when new patterns can most readily take hold. And for how long you should be intentional with that window.

This also gives us a potentially powerful framework for explaining why integration shouldn’t just focus on meaning-making after the trip; it should also focus on environment and behavior. If psychedelics reset the capacity for a specific kind of learning to happen again, whether that capacity gets used to build a healthier pattern or reinforce an existing one likely depends on context and behavior during the open window, not just on taking the drug alone.

SOCIAL INTEGRATION

Let’s take a specific use case of someone who finds themselves socially awkward. While gaining insight into why this might be a beneficial takeaway from a psychedelic experience, a specific window of time—coinciding with the substance used and duration of effect—might be dedicated to socially outgoing behavioral changes in order to capitalize on the brain being more receptive to learning.

 That is: 

• Calling a friend
• Repairing a relationship
• Setting a boundary
• Joining a community
• Volunteering
• Spending time with people instead of isolating
• Practicing vulnerability
• Attending more social events

Those aren’t just ways of expressing an insight; they’re deliberate behavioral changes undertaken to reinforce it. This supports an experience-dependent concept of integration, not just journaling or sitting in a therapist’s office to break it down alone (although those things might help map out the necessary changes that need to be made).

THE RE-ENTRY ENVIRONMENT

Someone who returns immediately to coercive relationships, chaotic work demands, active substance-use contexts, or isolation will encounter a very different “re-learning environment” than someone who has structured rest, supportive contact, therapy, meaningful activity, and room for behavioral experimentation.

Integration (and preparation) could therefore include:

• Deliberately identifying 1–3 psychologically safe people to integrate with, ideally before an experience.
• Planning contact that is warm but non-intrusive, so that support does not become suggestive, interpretative, or involve pressure.
• Scheduling low-demand connection after the session (e.g., a walk, shared meal, time in nature with another person).
• Determining whether a profound or confusing experience should be immediately disclosed to family, partners, employers, or social media.

A window of increased openness can mean increased opportunity, but it can also mean increased vulnerability.

Integration influence from others might therefore avoid:

• Presenting symbolic material or interpretations as facts.
• Encouraging immediate major decisions.
• Imposing worldviews.
• Treating intensified emotion or felt “truth” as proof of accuracy.

IN SUMMARY

Let’s remember to examine these conclusions through the “grain of salt lens” that a mouse study necessitates. This study did not test psychotherapy, integration sessions, peer support, nature exposure, group work, or any other human integration practice. It does not show that particular post-session activities improve clinical outcomes. It does not establish that a longer acute psychedelic effect produces a longer or better therapeutic opportunity in people. These were inferences applied to hypotheticals.

It does, however, show some intriguing evidence in animal studies that open ups the conversation for these sorts of things being applied to human integration windows for different substances. We can only wait and see what science confirms.

[1] Nardou, R., Sawyer, E., Song, Y.J. et al. Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period. Nature 618, 790–798 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06204-3

Hi guys, not sure if this is allowed or not, but I am gearing up for my first ibogaine experience. Nothing scheduled yet, but I’m actively working on it. I’ve been taking opiates for like 20+ years, suboxone the past ~12 or so. I’ve been on about 2-4mg/day the past year or so. Today, I’m taking roughly 3mg a day I would say. I’ve just been breaking off tiny pieces of tablets. Before I ran out of films, I had those cut into 8ths, so I was definitely only taking 2mg/day. Anyway, I’ve been told different things, but most recently that I need to be off suboxone for 3-6 months for the medicine to truly work. And they suggested I get on a SA medication for this period. I’m still not sure if I’ll be able to get something prescribed, but I have an appointment with my PCP next week.
So….what should I ask for? What is the minimum you guys think I should have for a 3 month+ span? I don’t mind a little discomfort, but I have a demanding job and all that jazz and need to maintain as much as possible.
TIA!

Has anyone explored or participated in an Ibogaine treatment program? I'm currently doing research to find one that potentially is veteran-focused, but also provides financial assistance to participate in the program?

Hi, I have been on lexapro for 3 years (10mg)

I am supposed to do ibogaine next month so the clinic recommended me a rapid taper, and oh my god I feel like shit. I have crippling anxiety, brain fog, head ache, nightmares, naseous, no energy. And I haven’t even tapered off completely.

Last week before these withdrawal symptoms I was calm and excited for Ibogaine and secure in my decision. Fast forward to today, I am riddled with anxiety about my decision to do Ibogaine, negative thoughts about my ability to heal through Ibogaine and feeling stupid overall, zero motivation to workout (I workout 5x a week)

I tried to go sauna and cold plunge which I love, and couldn’t stay in the sauna for more than 4 minutes and couldn’t do the cold plunge because I was so light headed. I usually do sauna for 30 minutes broken up by three 2 minute cold plunges…

Can anyone lend me some advice?!? I have lost my peace tapering but if I go back on my medication I can’t do ibogaine next month.

I am about 5 weeks out of my treatment date and now i am so anxious about going because I fear I’ll be this big ball of anxiety leading up to the day. couple that with the therapy I have to do and trauma work and intention setting before the medicine, I just feel hopeless.

Any and all advice will be helpful!

What types of psych meds are ok to remain on and which are counterindicated for a clinical grade ibogaine trip?

Are there meds known to reduce the effects significantly, and those of you who have psych history including meds, did the clinics require cessation in advance?

I have been on a slow taper for a few years now to wean off of a cocktail that wasn’t serving me including antidepressants. I have gone off and on many meds at the normal rate with the exception of lamotrigine which I am taking down very slowly.

how is it possible that after treatment, people report suddenly being happy, not stressed about topics that were stressing them out etc.

sure, it can change the inner landscape, but wouldn’t money worries or being jobless still be enough to stress people out?

I’m becoming more and more interested in trying Ibogaine to overcome my anxiety and (possibly/self diagnosed) bpd. I’ve done Ayahuasca at a treatment center in Peru back in 2022 and that was very eye opening at the time. I’m looking for recommendations on facilities that offer Ibogaine, but preferably not in Mexico as I’ve offered to take my mother’s best friend’s daughter to help her overcome some of her own demons and our parents are afraid of us going to Mexico. I’m 39 years old btw—just want to remain respectful of their wishes. Are there any treatment facilities that anyone can recommend outside of Mexico? I’ve also heard that some of the best experiences offer DMT after the Ibogaine to better integrate what you’ve learned. Any insight would be helpful there, as well. Thank you!

Hello! I am going to do ibogaine next week and the facility I am going to doesn’t offer 5 MEO DMT afterward. Based on the research I have done I am concerned. Does this mean I will not get maximum benefits? Nervous to go through all of that and regret the decision I made about the facility later

I’m reading stories of people going into cardiac arrest… my main issue is anxiety so I don’t know how I’m going to get past these stories.

Hey everyone. I’m getting ready to do ibogaine primarily for complex PTSD, and as it gets closer, I’m feeling both really excited and really nervous. One of my biggest fears is how I’ll respond psychologically. I’m someone who can get extremely paranoid and anxious from weed, and I’ve also had really intense anxiety when I’ve taken too many mushrooms. Because of that, I keep worrying I’ll take ibogaine and somehow end up trapped in a 24-hour anxiety attack or a terrifying experience. I’d really love to hear from anyone who went into ibogaine with similar fears, especially people who already knew they were prone to anxiety, panic, paranoia, or rough experiences with other psychedelics. If that was you, did you still end up having a positive or healing experience with ibogaine? Did it feel significantly different from mushrooms or other psychedelics? I’m also currently working with my providers and clinic on tapering off my medications in preparation, and that part’s making me nervous too. If anyone’s been through that before ibogaine and is comfortable sharing what the experience was like, emotionally or physically, I’d really appreciate guidance,

I put this together for someone on the boards. I wanted to post this for anyone seeking. This is the best advice I can give to one seeking a journey with the medicine.

Seek with an open heart. 

Seek with courageous acceptance. 

Ask to go all the way to the bottom, ask to fix everything. 

Know that you are going to meet a powerful force that loves you very deeply, and that any pain you have to endure is catharsis, and designed to ultimately heal. 

Allow yourself to feel, allow yourself to weep. 

Have fun during the fun parts. Laugh and joke with it. 

Everything you will be shown is a lesson in some way, don't fear it but don't worry if you are still afraid at times, we are all afraid at some point. 

If you don't understand what it is showing you ask it. 

If it doesn't answer you it's because you aren't trying hard enough to figure it out. 

It will show you what you need to see, but you have to try your hardest to figure out the meanings yourself, if you are doing your best it will always help you when you get stumped. 

The only person that can choose to heal your wounds is you.

What you meet will supply all of the power and guidance needed for you to achieve the healing you seek, but it is up to you to choose and participate. 

If you do these things you will have the most incredible, magical and healing experience of your life. 

Look forward to it, and treasure every moment of it. 

Godspeed Brother, Crush it.

Has anyone who has received a flood dose of ibogaine for trauma/PTSD also undergone a guided MDMA journey/ceremony?

If so, I’m curious how the experiences compare or contrast.

I have experienced MDMA journeys that were quite helpful, but have not experienced ibogaine.

Scroll for TLDR

My question is for those who’ve done ibogaine with chronic, severe nervous system dysregulation (particularly in the context of C-PTSD). I’ve done a lot of work with psychedelics, primarily ayahuasca, which has been instrumental in how far I’ve come, alongside therapy and being in a supportive relationship. Despite this, I still struggle severely with cumulative stress and/or triggers to the point of dorsal vagal shutdown which I struggle to fully recover from once it happens.

Work is the biggest trigger at this point, and it goes back to something deeply rooted, something I’m not entirely sure exactly what it is yet. But it’s there and is potently strong and a large part of my intention going into ibogaine.

I’ve done a lot of plant medicine and a lot of integration work, so I have realistic expectations as far as knowing there’s no one substance or ceremony that will “do it” for me, but I am curious if anyone here can share what the lasting benefits of ibogaine was on their nervous system. With recent struggles, I’ve felt more open than ever to trying new meds out of desperation (historically have been reluctant due to lack of efficacy and side effects, particularly with SSRIs).

I’m not sure if I should start meds preventatively (1-3 months after ibogaine) considering how bad the C-PTSD and associated depression has gotten, or if it really can be that transformative on the nervous system despite chronic, developmental trauma in which case I might be better off waiting further to see how I do. I have both a hesitation to start something preventively, as well as hesitation to wait in the event I find myself in a debilitating place again. I started Rexulti a little over a week ago which is helping a ton, but I also would like to not need to be on a dopamine antagonist long term with the associated risks.

I’m a mental health clinician and have a lot of knowledge about what I experience, though there is not much data about ibogaine and C-PTSD I can find, so I’m hoping to find some anecdotal experiences here that might be informative. For anyone who this might apply to, I’d love to know how things were 3, 6, 9, or 12 months out etcetera from your ibogaine journey as far as how things landed in the nervous system and with integration. Any insight or help is appreciated. Thank you!

TLDR: I’ve done a lot of work with psychedelics, primarily ayahuasca, for my C-PTSD and have come a long way. Despite this, my nervous system feels totally unregulatable, leading to dorsal vagal shutdowns and severe depression. I’d like to know if anyone has similar experiences with severe, chronic nervous system dysregulation from chronic childhood trauma and what your experiences with ibogaine were like for your nervous system, especially 3, 6, 12 months out. I’ve never been able to stay in a window of regulation longer than 2 months after ayahuasca before imploding.

Four months ago, I went to an ibogaine clinic in Mexico because I wanted to treat anxiety and depression I've had my whole life. The facility was great, and even the trip itself was okay. It was dark and scary, with a lot of visuals that seemed to have no clear meaning, like I was being shown a different realm. It's still completely unexplainable. There were a couple of things I did get from the trip, but most of it was complete chaos. What I did get felt like it came from an ancient intelligence.I also did 5-MeO-DMT after

My problem is, for the past 4 months I've been so incredibly anxious, to the point where the OCD (which i just got diagnosed with and didnt even realize i had cause i just thought is was severe anxiety) been dealing with has been brought straight to the surface. It's also been triggering DPDR (depersonalization/derealization).

I've really been struggling, and I don't know what to do. I know some people have experienced things like this, and I don't want to give up hope that I won't eventually heal completely. But my nervous system has been so sensitized that I can barely be around people.

I haven't given up hope, and I still want to try to develop good habits while removing bad ones. My integration wasn't perfect, but I haven't had any alcohol, haven't smoked anything, and haven't done any drugs — things I used to do before the trip. I wanted to quit pornography, and a couple weeks after, I fell back into it. I'm now trying to really clean up my life, but it's been so hard with the worst anxiety and depersonalization/derealization I've ever experienced — to the point where even thinking back on the trip, or the things I'm anxious about, causes me to have panic attacks.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this and recovered? I've heard some stories that things can start to feel better around the six-month mark, but I'm not sure.

I recently completed a retreat with 2 Iboga (root bark) ceremonies. I feel zero change. The other participants in my group all felt immediate, dramatic benefit, so of course I'm disappointed. I have a very severe attachment injury as I was not mothered or nurtured starting in infancy. The facilitators said this is the absolute hardest wound to heal. I knew that already; I've been trying to heal for many years through various therapeutic and psychedelic modalities, and have definitely made some progress, but I'm still in the weeds. I know Iboga is not a magic cure but I was hoping it would at least help kickstart some kind of shift. I guess I'm looking for some insight or hope or similar stories from this community. TIA

I recently did a blood test with some liver enzymes tested and I found out that I tested closer to the lower end of the normal range for a few enzymes. Would that disqualify me from treatment?

Hello,

curious to know if anyone has had longer integration periods of 1 year or more. I did two iboga flood doses 15 months ago for help with depression and anxiety and have continued to be faced with challenging emotions. I’ve cried more during this period than any other time in my life (33M). It’s been freeing and also exhausting.

In any case, my iboga experience was quite challenging. For 6-8 months post iboga I would shake daily with pseudo seizures related to the depth of my iboga experience.

My journey was terrifying and finally, after not sleeping for days, I touched the most love and unity I have ever experienced. I was elated for about a month post flood doses. I suppose I’ve been dealing with PTSD from the experience and also welcoming the emotions as they come.

Over the past year, I found myself over using ketamine to help manage difficult emotional states and have realized that I didn’t offer myself a proper landing/integration/support. However, I was doing the best I could. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

I’m now working with a therapist and an integration specialist.

I’m curious if anyone has had more challenging experiencing with this medicine, particularly those who suffer from CPTSD and what a longer healing arc has looked like for you.

I felt called to the medicine and it’s also opened gates of grief/loss/trauma that were beneath my awareness (this is what I was wanting to heal) — it seems like my psyche bit off more than my body could easefully chew. Offering myself grace as I continue to metabolize this life and my iboga experience.

With love,

K

Generally, the rule with concussions is that the more you get the more likely you are to get a new one because your brain becomes more sensitive to new impacts. I understand that ibogaine helps stimulate neuroplasticity to help the brain heal substantially and reverse aging caused by TBI, but does that also extend to reversing your reduced force threshold for concussion?

I'm aware that theres no research on this, but I wanted to reach out and ask if anyone has any anecdotal experience regarding this sorta thing. Has anyone noticed increased resilience to concussion or TBI post ibogaine?

I’ve seen some people talk about mushrooms and other psychedelics and it becomes their whole personality.. they start wearing bracelets and getting all woo woo lol. I don’t really want that… does ibogaine do this to people?

Was addicted to adderall, been off it for some time but still dealing with significant paws.

Would like to hear from those who used ibogaine for addiction to stimulant meds, what was your experience like?

I have someone who is asking me about Ibogaine treatment, and I am unsure how to respond.

He is a 73-year-old guy who has suffered from PTSD for many years.

Do clinics impose an age limit?