Research library / Observational study

Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries

Cherian KN, Keynan JN, Anker L, et al. Nature Medicine 2024;30(2):373-381

This Stanford study followed 30 male Special Operations veterans, most with mild traumatic brain injury, who travelled for ibogaine treatment given together with magnesium, which is meant to reduce ibogaine's known heart rhythm risk. Researchers measured disability, PTSD, depression and anxiety before treatment, straight after, and one month later. Disability scores improved right away and more so at one month, and PTSD, depression and anxiety scores all fell sharply by the one-month mark. There were no serious or unexpected side effects in this group. The results are striking but come without a comparison group, so expectation, the retreat setting and the other therapies offered could all have contributed. The authors themselves call for controlled trials to test safety and effectiveness properly.