DO WE ACCEPT PEOPLE ON BUPRENORPHINE???
YES, but first…..
Buprenorphine (Subutex, Suboxone) Detoxification
Before receiving ibogaine, you must switch from buprenorphine to a short-acting opioid like morphine to avoid serious complications and ensure the treatment is effective. Buprenorphine is a long-acting partial opioid agonist with an exceedingly long half-life. This factor poses significant risks when combined with ibogaine. Long-acting opioids like buprenorphine are stored securely in the body’s fat tissues for extended periods. These drugs don’t just affect brain receptors—they can remain in your body for weeks or even longer. We need to ensure that no buprenorphine is still present in your body before proceeding with an ibogaine treatment program.
What do we do? We switch you to morphine to keep you comfortable and out of withdrawal until we are sure the body has eliminated the buprenorphine. Unfortunately, there are no good studies to know how long this takes. Based on experience within the ibogaine community, we recommend 3 months on morphine. We collaborate closely with a physician well-versed in this process to ensure that you get the best care possible before arriving for treatment.
The dangers of combining ibogaine and buprenorphine
- Precipitated withdrawal: Buprenorphine can remain in the body for several weeks, during which it continues to block opioid receptors. Imagine that ibogaine is given while buprenorphine remains active in the system. In that case, the ibogaine cannot fully bind to the receptors. It may trigger a sudden and severe precipitated withdrawal. Symptoms of precipitated withdrawal include rapid onset of body aches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
- Reduced effectiveness of ibogaine: Buprenorphine’s presence can also interfere with the core mechanism of ibogaine, which works by resetting the brain’s opioid receptors. The lingering buprenorphine can prevent ibogaine from reaching all the receptors it needs to, resulting in continued withdrawal symptoms after treatment. It can also reduce the positive spiritual effects of the ibogaine which is key to its success as a treatment for mental health and addiction.
- Cardiac risks: Both ibogaine and buprenorphine can affect heart rhythms. Combining them may increase the risk of serious cardiac complications. There is a risk of dangerous arrythmia known to prolong the QT interval, which can lead to life-threatening heart arrhythmias.
The Detoxification Protocol
- Phase 1: Morphine initiation. You stop taking buprenorphine and begin a medically supervised regimen of a short-acting opioid like morphine sulfate. You will have a full medical consultation before initiation to address all medical issues or questions you may have regarding this process.
- Phase 2: Morphine maintenance. The duration of the maintenance phase remains unclear due to the lack of scientific research. Urine and blood tests have not been a reliable indicator to guide treatment duration. The time required for full clearance varies based on age, body habitus, dosage, duration of medication use, metabolism, and other unknown factors. We recommend 3 months for full and assured clearance of all buprenorphine.
- Phase 3: Medical clearance. After finishing the pre-ibogaine morphine protocol and receiving medical clearance from our doctor, you can proceed to treatment.
Other thoughts:
Be wary of any ibogaine center that claims that a single ibogaine treatment can eliminate withdrawal symptoms from buprenorphine, as this is not true. Legitimate ibogaine treatment centers will always require a switch to short-acting opioids before treatment.
Any center that will take you without a morphine bridge for months is taking advantage of you.
Although switching back to short-acting opioids may seem counterproductive, it is necessary to follow the proper treatment protocols.
Going for ibogaine treatment with long-acting opioids in the system can result in continued withdrawal symptoms even after treatment. It is crucial to be cautious of treatment centers that claim otherwise.
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https://welcomeomlife.com/services/f/buprenorphine-detoxification