Central Neural Actions of Ibogaine in Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
University of California, Irvine
Summary
This study aims to understand how ibogaine treatment may change brain activity and symptoms in people with moderate-severe opioid use disorder (OUD), as defined by the DSM-5. Ibogaine is a plant-derived compound that some studies suggest can reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal. Participants in this study will already be independently scheduled to receive legal ibogaine treatment at a licensed clinic outside of the U.S. The University of California, Irvine (UCI) research team will not provide the treatment but will conduct brain imaging, administer psychometric questionnaires, and obtain urine samples throughout the course of this study. UCI does not sponsor or financially support the ibogaine treatment in any way; all treatment costs are the sole responsibility of the participant. The main goal is to see if ibogaine changes brain function as assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and electroencephalography (EEG). MRI/MRS will measure brain activity when participants view opioid-related images, brain connectivity at rest, and levels of brain chemicals involved in craving and substance use. EEG will measure brain wave activity. MRI/MRS/EEG will be administered across 3 study time points. In addition, participants will complete psychometric surveys related to opioid craving, withdrawal symptoms, mood, anxiety, pain, and quality of life, along with urine tests to monitor substance use and screen for pregnancy. The investigators hypothesize that after ibogaine treatment, participants will show reduced brain responses to opioid cues, changes in brain connectivity and chemistry, and improvements in self-reported cravings and other symptoms. This information may help researchers better understand how ibogaine works in the brain and whether it could play a role in future treatments for OUD.
Description
Primary Hypothesis: 3-5 days and 1-month after ibogaine treatment (compared to baseline), participants will show reduced brain responses to opioid-related images on task fMRI and reduced resting-state connectivity within reward circuitry. The brain areas expected to be affected include the basal ganglia, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. Post-ibogaine spectroscopy will also show lower glutamate + glutamine (Glx) levels within the insula and nucleus accumbens. Exploratory Hypotheses: The magnitude of MRI/MRS changes (including activation/connectivity in the cingulate, hippocampus,…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 21-65 with confirmed moderate to severe OUD as assessed by equal or greater than 4 symptoms using DSM-5 criteria. * Independently scheduled to receive ibogaine treatment at Ambio Life Sciences in Tijuana, Mexico. * Able to undergo MRI and EEG procedures at UC Irvine at Visit 1 (baseline), Visit 4, and Visit 5, totaling three sessions. * Able to complete psychometric surveys at each study time point. * Able to provide urine samples at all three scanning sessions at UCI. * Able to provide urine samples at a local external lab for 3- and 6-month follow-ups. * Ca…
Interventions
- OtherObservational study with MRI/EEG
Participants will independently undergo ibogaine treatment at a licensed clinic outside the United States. The UCI research team will not provide the ibogaine treatment but will conduct observational imaging and qualitative assessments before and after. These include MRI and MRS scans to measure brain activity and chemistry, EEG recordings of brain wave activity, urine toxicology and pregnancy tests, and self-report questionnaires on craving, withdrawal, mood, pain, anxiety, and quality of life.
Location
- Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, University of California, IrvineIrvine, California