Effects of ibogaine on acute signs of morphine withdrawal in rats: independence from tremor.
Because of the claim that ibogaine suppresses the symptoms of "narcotic withdrawal" in humans, the effect of ibogaine on naltrexone-precipitated withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats was assessed. Morphine was administered subcutaneously through implanted silicone reservoirs for 5 days. Ibogaine (20, 40 or 80 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline was administered 30 min prior to challenge with naltrexone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and withdrawal signs were counted for the following 2 hr. Ibogaine (40 and 80 mg/kg) significantly reduced the occurrence of four signs (wet-dog shakes, grooming, teeth chattering and diarrhea) during naltrexone-precipitated withdrawal; three other signs (weight loss, burying and flinching) were unaffected. Ibogaine induces head and body tremors lasting for 2-3 hr and the tremors might have interfered with the expression of opioid withdrawal. To examine this issue, another experiment was conducted in which ibogaine (40 mg/kg) or saline was administered 4 hr prior to challenge with naltrexone. Although there was a complete absence of tremors, ibogaine still significantly reduced the occurrence of the same four signs of withdrawal.
Glick
S D
SD
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Albany Medical College, NY 12208.
Rossman
K
K
Rao
N C
NC
Maisonneuve
I M
IM
Carlson
J N
JN
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D007050:Ibogaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced*
D007050:Ibogaine; D009020:Morphine