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After Ibogaine..??
by StingRay, Dec 17, 2000 12:00AM
Thank you in advance for your advice
(hmmm...how to keep this brief...)
I saw the original 60-Minutes airing on Ibogaine in '95(?)...
last year I met a kind-hearted young woman who had added crack-cocaine use to an existing 4-year herion habit (this at age 27, followed a methamphetaime addition since ~ age 13). Her problem compelled me to offer her info, and then treatment with Ibogiance. My income allowed me to cover the costs without hardship, but my time was limited. She skipped-out and a year later we crossed paths. I was unemployed (not the first time due to methamphetime addiction), but still had funds. We spent 60 days using and waiting for what I beleived was the best source for treatment.
I was impressed by the program, the staff, the alkaloid and by the experiences (current and past) of the other patients......the problem....of the 16 or so getting treatment, we were the least successfull. My experience was next to knill, having arrived neuro-toxic, I fainted (low blood-pressure) at the onset and 16 hours of "trails".
My friend had limited visions, which got her an immediate detox (significant, but debatable). She still exhibited drug-seeking behavior and cravings...came back "home" ('to use once or twice, followed by a Haight-Ashbury detox) against recommendations and availability of a residential program following treament.
The desire to quit and optimism are there, along with a very real possibility of death in the near tearm (she was evaluated by all staff as having a poor prognosis, being in the worst overall health and a long road psychologically)
I want to continue to assist her, but not towards death. I see her behavior well (strongn towards recovery, until the final seconds), but don't want to use this as an excuse for her to continue use. I have mixed confidence in her ability to kick from the outpatient program, although I respect their professionalism. She has kick the do-it-yourself way in the past, and I suspect it will get to that this time.
She obviously needs a great amount of care, and has been offered the ability to get a second ibogaine treatment and greatly reduced cost...but if she tries to kick with meds prior...can you suggest a preferable method? A safe method...? Is this at all practicle, or does it most often lead to more difficulty??Two caring friends of hers have suggested and offered assistance, but I am unknowlegable and will likley have to act in some fashion prior to begin able to educate myself. Can you reccomend where I can learn and effective and sage regemin, or sound advice on the subject in general??
So much for brevity....Thanks again.....
(PS...I'll be going for an additional treatment as well, attending the program increased my confidence in the overall effectiveness of Ibogaine for most, despite my personal experience.)
(hmmm...how to keep this brief...)
I saw the original 60-Minutes airing on Ibogaine in '95(?)...
last year I met a kind-hearted young woman who had added crack-cocaine use to an existing 4-year herion habit (this at age 27, followed a methamphetaime addition since ~ age 13). Her problem compelled me to offer her info, and then treatment with Ibogiance. My income allowed me to cover the costs without hardship, but my time was limited. She skipped-out and a year later we crossed paths. I was unemployed (not the first time due to methamphetime addiction), but still had funds. We spent 60 days using and waiting for what I beleived was the best source for treatment.
I was impressed by the program, the staff, the alkaloid and by the experiences (current and past) of the other patients......the problem....of the 16 or so getting treatment, we were the least successfull. My experience was next to knill, having arrived neuro-toxic, I fainted (low blood-pressure) at the onset and 16 hours of "trails".
My friend had limited visions, which got her an immediate detox (significant, but debatable). She still exhibited drug-seeking behavior and cravings...came back "home" ('to use once or twice, followed by a Haight-Ashbury detox) against recommendations and availability of a residential program following treament.
The desire to quit and optimism are there, along with a very real possibility of death in the near tearm (she was evaluated by all staff as having a poor prognosis, being in the worst overall health and a long road psychologically)
I want to continue to assist her, but not towards death. I see her behavior well (strongn towards recovery, until the final seconds), but don't want to use this as an excuse for her to continue use. I have mixed confidence in her ability to kick from the outpatient program, although I respect their professionalism. She has kick the do-it-yourself way in the past, and I suspect it will get to that this time.
She obviously needs a great amount of care, and has been offered the ability to get a second ibogaine treatment and greatly reduced cost...but if she tries to kick with meds prior...can you suggest a preferable method? A safe method...? Is this at all practicle, or does it most often lead to more difficulty??Two caring friends of hers have suggested and offered assistance, but I am unknowlegable and will likley have to act in some fashion prior to begin able to educate myself. Can you reccomend where I can learn and effective and sage regemin, or sound advice on the subject in general??
So much for brevity....Thanks again.....
(PS...I'll be going for an additional treatment as well, attending the program increased my confidence in the overall effectiveness of Ibogaine for most, despite my personal experience.)
Member Comments (3)
by Brighty, Dec 17, 2000 12:00AM
Go to ibogaine.org and then find the link to subscribe to the mailing list. After the information arrives in your e-mail box, post your question there on the list. You will get many informative replies. If you post your e-mail address with your question, there are some who will likely contact you personally rather than on the list. The only problem is that your e-mail box will overflow. Aside from that I think you need to send your friend to a traditional detox and then after that's complete get right on over to the ibogaine treatment before she relapses again. Ibogaine is not a magic bullet... it must always correspond with psychotherapy or a recovery program. Good luck to you and God bless you for ministering to this suffering soul. Love, Brighty
by Brighty, Dec 17, 2000 12:00AM
Since your friend is in such poor physical health I think it is essential that she do an inpatient detox. She may need to be tested for infectious disease, malnutrition and other ailments then treated accordingly. Lot's of people will be able to tell you which are the best detox meds and the dosages but if this is done at home she could have complications... dehydration being a common and dangerous one. Please make sure she gets detox AND medical attention. Also, a liver workup needs to be done and presented to the ibogaine treatment group when she goes for her 2nd try. One reason the treatment may not have helped her much is because it's essential that the liver be working normally for the treatment to be successful. I am no expert... I got my information at the sites I am sending you to. Best wishes.
by Brighty to Dr. Steve, Dec 30, 2000 12:00AM
Thank you for all the caring and informative replies you send to all of us. I suspect that Sting Ray's friend is in need of much support at this time. It is not likely that she will come to this board and ask her own questions if she is in the eariliest of recovery stages or if she is physically run down or worn out which seems to be the case from Sting Ray's post. I believe that the intervention of family and friends is the first of the hard battles with addiction. I also believe that we need to give information to family and friends so they can inform and guide loved ones in a healing direction. Many people here ask questions about others they are working with. I hope this forum will continue to provide informative replies not only to addicts helping themselves but to anyone who is a support person for an addict. I am not an addict but this board has been my life line in assisting my loved one and has been a valuable addition to all her other recovery tools. Blessings upon your worthwhile work with suffering people. Brighty
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