Trump to sign executive order on ibogaine research
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days that will encourage more research into the psychedelic ibogaine, reports BritPanorama.
The order will not seek to reclassify ibogaine, a Schedule I controlled substance, which is designated for substances with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The executive order remains unfinalized, and plans could still change, according to a source familiar with the order.
Neither the White House nor the US Health and Human Services has responded to requests for comment on the matter. The executive order was first reported by CBS News.
Ibogaine, extracted from the iboga plant native to Central Africa, has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. However, it is used in some countries to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms and has been employed to decrease opioid cravings as well as to treat depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in veterans.
The compound has garnered support from several high-profile figures, including former Texas Governor Rick Perry and podcast host Joe Rogan. While there are advocates for its potential benefits, ibogaine is known to predispose patients to abnormal heart rhythms and rates and could also cause vomiting. Patients undergoing ibogaine treatment typically experience an initial visual phase lasting 1 to 4 hours, followed by an introspective phase that can last several hours to days.
The unfolding developments regarding ibogaine research may have substantial implications for the treatment of opioid-related issues in the US.
