Last Updated:

January 30th, 2026

Iboga addiction: Signs, symptoms and side-effects

Iboga is a shrub from Central Africa with root bark containing ibogaine, an extremely powerful psychoactive substance. Iboga is traditionally used in Bwiti spiritual practices, but is sometimes used as an alternative addiction treatment. Use in the UK is thought to be exceptionally rare, with no reliable statistics available. However, what is known is that ibogaine carries serious cardiac risks, and psychological addiction can develop without any physical dependence. Recognising the signs of iboga addiction is crucial as it can prevent the dangers spiralling and could even save your life.

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What is iboga addiction?

Iboga addiction is a rare but serious condition that develops when repeated use becomes a pattern you can’t break despite knowing the risks you are taking. The rarity of iboga addiction in Britain doesn’t diminish the dangers, however, especially for individuals and communities more likely to use it.

It can be a particularly cruel addiction as some people become dependent on a substance they originally used to break free from other substance use disorders. This is partly why iboga addiction often goes unrecognised, as users see it as medical treatment rather than drug-taking.

How does iboga addiction develop?

Iboga addiction follows an unusual path because people often first use it to address other forms of drug addiction or sometimes mental health issues. The progression typically looks something like this:

Iboga abuse

Your first iboga experience may be in a treatment setting or through someone offering it as a solution to addiction or depression. The effects are intensely powerful, with vivid visions, emotional release, and sometimes temporary relief from cravings or mental health symptoms. If you credit these effects with recovery or breakthrough, it is only natural to continue using.

Iboga dependence

As a single treatment session becomes something you repeat, iboga can become your answer to emotional, spiritual, or substance-related issues. Between iboga sessions, ordinary challenges can feel impossible to manage, and you can become convinced it is the only solution available.

Iboga addiction

Once addicted, iboga misuse can become impossible to resist despite growing concerns you are starting to have. You may begin to experience some of the symptoms of addiction explained below, but you carry on using iboga regardless.

How to identify iboga addiction signs

Overcoming iboga addiction denial is difficult because many people see it as medical treatment, not drug use. Iboga sessions are also infrequent compared to other substance use, and with sessions sometimes weeks or months apart, it can be harder to spot these iboga addiction signs:

  • Using iboga far more often than the single or occasional “treatment” you originally decided to try.
  • Believing iboga creates breakthroughs, but struggling to sustain any progress between sessions.
  • Travelling abroad or spending large amounts of money on iboga, even when that hurts your finances or relationships.
  • Using iboga despite experiencing dangerous heart symptoms like severe palpitations or chest pain.
  • Using iboga every time you’re struggling emotionally, rather than therapy or seeking other support.
  • Hiding your iboga use from doctors or family because you know they would be concerned.

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Why is iboga addictive?

Ibogaine affects numerous brain systems at once, producing effects lasting 24-36 hours. The experience often involves reviewing your entire life and accessing buried memories, and when this intensity fades, daily life can feel empty in comparison.

But it is also a mixture of specific personal circumstances that increase the chances of developing an iboga addiction:

The treatment-seeking trap
If you first use iboga for addiction or medical treatment, when it provides even temporary relief, it can feel like the only thing that’s ever worked. This creates dependency from the very start, so instead of looking for alternative treatment, you return to iboga whenever problems come back.
Connection to African diaspora communities
Some people from Central African backgrounds, particularly those with connections to Gabon or Cameroon, where the Bwiti practices originate, may encounter iboga through cultural contexts. For people living in the UK or away from their countries, iboga use can become a part of maintaining their cultural identity.
Seeking transformation and meaning
Some people use iboga looking for mystical experiences, or religious or spiritual enlightenment. The intense effects can feel enlightening, but without proper support afterwards to understand what you have experienced, you can end up chasing that feeling repeatedly.
Severe trauma
Military veterans, abuse survivors and others carrying serious trauma may try iboga after conventional PTSD treatments fail. As with other mental health conditions, this can keep you trapped in a symptom and solution cycle that never really resolves anything.

Iboga side effects and addiction risks

Iboga is significantly more dangerous physically than other psychedelics. Multiple deaths have occurred even in supervised settings, making repeated use exceptionally risky:

Heart toxicity and sudden death
Ibogaine directly affects your heart’s electrical system, potentially causing fatal irregular heartbeats. People have died from sudden heart attacks during or shortly after iboga sessions, and this risk increases with existing heart conditions or combining iboga with other substances.
Severe neurological effects
Ibogaine can cause tremors, loss of muscle control, seizures, and in some cases, lasting brain damage. The inability to control movements during an iboga experience can last 12-24 hours, leaving you physically vulnerable. Some people experience ongoing coordination problems or tremors lasting weeks after iboga use.
Dangerous drug interactions
Ibogaine interacts lethally with many medications and substances. Combining it with opioids, antidepressants, stimulants, or even some over-the-counter medications can be fatal. Because iboga stays in your system for days, the interaction window extends long after the main experience ends.
Psychological breakdown
The 24-36 hour duration of intense psychological effects can trigger lasting psychiatric problems, particularly in people with existing conditions or vulnerabilities. Some users develop ongoing anxiety, depression, or a feeling of being disconnected from reality that doesn’t go away. The experience can also bring up hidden trauma before you are ready to process it safely.
Legal consequences
Iboga is illegal in several countries, including the United States, Belgium, and Switzerland. In the UK, ibogaine sits in a legal grey area, as it is not explicitly banned but potentially prosecutable.

What does iboga addiction recovery involve?

Getting help for iboga addiction requires specialists who understand both the psychological patterns and the serious medical risks involved. There are three main phases to effective treatment:

1. Drug detox

A medically-assisted detox first removes iboga from your system, addresses any lingering physical effects, and possibly checks for iboga-related heart or psychological damage.

2. Drug rehab

Inpatient rehab treatment is then best for tackling why you became dependent on such a dangerous substance. It may include trauma therapy to address underlying PTSD, relapse prevention planning, and other evidence-based therapies to work through your underlying personal needs.

3. Post-rehab recovery

Long-term recovery may include a mixture of aftercare services provided by your rehab centre and local support you access on your own. This can include NA meetings, 12-step groups, and therapy for emotional and mental health struggles.

Not sure where to turn? Recovery.org connects people throughout Britain with treatment centres equipped to handle complex addiction cases. Contact us today to discuss your situation confidentially and learn more about the rehab programmes available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can iboga or ibogaine be addictive?
Ibogaine doesn’t cause withdrawal symptoms like opioid or alcohol addiction, but people can become psychologically dependent on the intense experiences it produces. This is particularly common among those who first used iboga for addiction treatment and return to it repeatedly whenever they are struggling.
Are there risks of poisoning with iboga?
Yes, and an iboga overdose or poisoning can be fatal. Taking too much ibogaine causes severe heart toxicity, potentially leading to fatal heart rhythm problems, breathing failure, seizures, or heart attacks. The danger increases because iboga’s active compounds stay in your body for days, and you never really know how much ibogaine is in different preparations. Multiple deaths have been documented in both supervised and unsupervised settings.
Can iboga trigger dangerous physical side effects?
Absolutely. Iboga carries serious physical risks even at lower doses. It can cause dangerous heart rhythm problems, severe drops in blood pressure, prolonged vomiting and dehydration, loss of muscle control, tremors, and in some cases seizures. People with any heart conditions, liver problems, or those taking certain medications face dramatically increased risks.

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