If you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard about ibogaine’s remarkable power to reverse the effects of addiction on the body and the mind. Or you’re curious about whether the neurological effects of this remarkable substance can help you deal with PTSD, an eating disorder, or depression. Maybe you’re simply intrigued by the potential of this incredible root to facilitate spiritual growth. But regardless of your reasons for contemplating the use of ibogaine, there are essential facts you need to be aware of. Ibogaine use must not be taken lightly. Ibogaine has been known to have very serious side-effects, which can lead to potentially fatal outcomes. A variety of pre-existing conditions can be exacerbated by ingesting the substance, with severe physiological and psychological consequences. And extremely large doses of the substance have been known to result in strokes and other horrendous outcomes. If you’re going to use ibogaine, it’s fundamentally important that you find a responsible provider who takes every precaution that you emerge from treatment healthy and whole. Today we’ll guide you through the process of finding a safe ibogaine treatment option.
What Could Go Wrong?
Common side effects of ibogaine use are nausea, ringing or buzzing in the ears, and ataxia, meaning the inability to move your limbs and a feeling of paralysis. A responsible treatment provider will monitor your vital signs throughout treatment and offer assistance should you feel the need to use the bathroom or vomit. When consumed in extremely large doses it can also increase your risk of stroke, but in smaller doses it actually is anti-convulsive, meaning it decreases your risk of seizure.
Ibogaine can be particularly dangerous for those who suffer from certain pre-existing conditions. If you are afflicted by a disorder which impairs heart, liver, or kidney function, it is inadvisable, under any circumstances, to undergo the treatment. Ibogaine can cause arrhythmia and a slowing of the heart rate known as bradycardia which can prove fatal to those with heart defects. The substance has also been found to have an effect on hepatic function and liver enzymes, and it can exacerbate the symptoms of some psychological conditions. The evidence is still unclear as to whether ibogaine can be safely consumed by those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Not every treatment center will use the same exclusion criteria as Tabula Rasa Retreat, but we’ve thought long and hard about safety, and worked with the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance to ensure that our patients stay safe. While fatalities have resulted from ibogaine use, the vast majority of them are linked to fatal interactions with other substances, pre-existing conditions, or unsupervised ingestion. We firmly believe that with proper screening and testing, medical supervision, and emergency planning, the risk of fatality can be reduced to zero.
What A Responsible Ibogaine Provider Needs To Do
Any treatment facility worth your consideration will offer you clear, specific, and easily verifiable information regarding their safety procedures and record. In our view, an electrocardiogram, or EKG, is absolutely necessary. Many people with existing heart conditions or defects are unaware of them, and any treatment center is behaving irresponsibly if they simply ask you about your heart’s functioning. The same is true for comprehensive bloodwork and a full panel of metabolic tests. People might not know what’s in all of the pills that they take (particularly if they’re obtained on the black market) and addicts entering recovery aren’t always reliable sources of information. Stimulants and other substances have been known to cause severe adverse reactions when taken alongside ibogaine, and we have learned through experience that these tests are a better option than relying on self-reporting. Your care providers must know exactly what substances are in your body before you consume ibogaine in order to determine whether the treatment is safe. At Tabula Rasa Retreat we also check up on thyroid function and measure levels of serum electrolytes for patients over 45 years of age.
How To Tell If A Treatment Center Deserves Your Trust
In order to be safe, you will need to gather as much information as you can. The Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance is an excellent source of unbiased information, and their clinical guidelines and patient’s bill of rights can let you know what to look for in a treatment center. You owe it to yourself to gather as much information as you can, from a variety of sources (don’t just take the word of a single treatment center, even if it’s us) and ask tough questions of a prospective facility. While many ibogaine providers are responsible and principled, there are also many sub-par options who are motivated solely by profit.
Make sure to ask potential providers what their emergency plan is, how close the nearest hospitals are, and whether they have a relationship with the medical staff there. Try to find a jurisdiction where treatment isn’t illegal so that neither you nor the staff will be reluctant to call an ambulance if it should prove necessary. Ask about screening procedures and exclusion criteria, and note the similarities and differences between different treatment centers. Find out about the staff’s medical training, background, and certifications. Ask about past adverse events, and what the facility has learned from them. If your contact there seems to offer evasive answers, or dismisses the risks inherent in ibogaine therapy, that is a very bad sign. Any experienced ibogaine professionals will have dealt with some adverse outcomes or emergencies in the past. They will be eager to share their knowledge of the benefits and risks of treatment, rather than just sweet-talking you into parting with your deposit.
It is true, ibogaine can kill you. However, if you do your research, respect the substance’s power, and are diligent in choosing the right provider, you will be able to ensure your safety. If you have any questions to ask us at Tabula Rasa Retreat, regarding the risks and benefits of ibogaine therapy, we’re always ready to help!
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530