Substances & sources
These terms describe ibogaine itself, related compounds, plant-source language, and metabolites.
Plain-language reference
Glossary A–Z
A careful, alphabetized guide to terms used around ibogaine, noribogaine, clinical research, safety screening, and unregulated settings.
Definitions here provide context, not personal medical or legal guidance. Terms connected to serious cardiac risk are marked clearly.
Start with the language
Words can carry risk, uncertainty, and context.
Ibogaine language often blends pharmacology, informal treatment vocabulary, and legal terms. For broad orientation before using this glossary, the plain-language ibogaine resource frames why clear definitions matter; the terms below then separate what is known, what is regulated, and what needs careful oversight.
Pharmacology & safety
These terms describe receptors, metabolism, cardiac electrical effects, and screening concepts.
Care & regulation
These terms describe research, support practices, legal status, and cross-border treatment settings.
A–C
Substances and core concepts
In published research, wording about a compound does not automatically establish a treatment outcome. The FDA’s clinical research overview distinguishes investigation from approval.
Cardiotoxicity
A general term for harmful effects on the heart. In ibogaine discussions, it can refer to concern about cardiac rhythm effects and related complications.
High-risk — see medical oversight.CYP2D6
An enzyme involved in metabolizing many substances. Differences in CYP2D6 activity, including genetic variation and medication interactions, may affect how a compound is processed.
Flood dose
Informal language for a comparatively large ibogaine dose intended to produce an intense, prolonged psychoactive experience. The phrase is not a standardized clinical dosing term.
Ibogaine
A psychoactive indole alkaloid associated with plants in the Apocynaceae family, including Tabernanthe iboga. It is discussed in research, ceremonial, and unregulated treatment contexts.
Noribogaine
A metabolite produced as the body processes ibogaine. It is pharmacologically active and is often discussed separately because its effects and time course may differ from ibogaine’s.
Voacanga derivatives
Compounds or starting materials derived from Voacanga species that may be used in routes of ibogaine production. The phrase describes origin or chemistry, not a guarantee of purity, identity, or safety.
H–T
Pharmacology and cardiac language
hERG
Short for a gene associated with a cardiac potassium channel. In drug-safety discussions, hERG activity matters because interference with this channel can be associated with QT interval prolongation.
NMDA receptor
A receptor involved in signaling in the nervous system. It is part of the wider pharmacology vocabulary used when describing how some psychoactive compounds may interact with multiple receptor systems.
Kappa opioid receptor
One of several opioid receptor types. Mention of this receptor describes a possible pharmacologic interaction; it does not by itself establish a clinical effect or therapeutic result.
QT / QTc interval
Measurements on an electrocardiogram that relate to the timing of electrical recovery in the heart. QTc is the QT interval adjusted for heart rate; the NCBI overview of long QT syndrome explains why prolonged intervals can be clinically important.
Torsades de pointes
A potentially dangerous type of abnormal heart rhythm that can occur in the setting of a prolonged QT interval. It is a medical emergency term, not a routine side effect label.
High-risk — see medical oversight.TQT study
Short for a thorough QT study: a specialized study design used to assess whether a drug affects cardiac repolarization and QT intervals. It is a regulatory-science term, not a personal screening substitute.
High-risk — see medical oversight.I–S
Care, research, and legal context
Terminology for settings and regulation often gets used loosely. The regulatory and safety context helps distinguish legal labels, research pathways, and safety language without treating them as assurances.
Booster dose
Informal language for an additional, smaller dose given after an earlier dose. It is not a universally standardized clinical term, and its meaning can differ between settings.
Set and setting
“Set” generally refers to a person’s mindset, expectations, and preparation. “Setting” refers to the physical and social environment; these terms describe context, not a substitute for medical safety planning.
Integration
A term commonly used for reflection and support after an intense experience. It may include practical, emotional, or social follow-up, but it does not mean that an outcome has been established or is predictable.
IND
Short for Investigational New Drug application. In the United States, an IND is part of the pathway that can allow clinical investigation of a drug that has not been approved for general marketing.
Schedule I
A United States controlled-substances classification. The DEA’s drug scheduling explanation describes how schedules are used under federal law; legal status can differ by country and jurisdiction.
Right-to-Try
A U.S. legal framework concerning access to certain investigational drugs for eligible patients with life-threatening diseases. It is not a general authorization for unapproved substances and does not replace applicable law, screening, or clinical judgment.
Medical tourism
Traveling to another country for health-related services or procedures. In ibogaine discussions, the term may refer to cross-border travel to settings operating under legal and regulatory conditions different from those at home.
Common questions
How to read this glossary
Use each entry as a starting point for more precise questions. For example, focused discussions of ibogaine and Parkinson’s terminology or language around PTSD treatment claims need the same distinction between research context and individualized medical advice.
Does “research” mean a substance is approved treatment?
No. Research, including early-stage research, is not the same as regulatory approval or a finding that a treatment is safe or effective for a particular person.
Why do QTc and torsades de pointes matter?
They describe cardiac electrical concepts. In an ibogaine context, they are used to discuss potentially serious rhythm risks and the importance of medical oversight.
Does “medical tourism” mean care is regulated the same way everywhere?
No. Requirements, oversight, product controls, emergency capacity, and legal rules vary by jurisdiction. That is why descriptions of ibogaine treatment in Mexico should not be assumed to describe every setting or person’s circumstances.
Why avoid using cost as a measure of safety?
Price does not establish screening quality, emergency readiness, product identity, legal status, or clinical appropriateness. Even pages discussing the cost of ibogaine treatment cannot answer those safety questions on their own.
Keep the context close.
Definitions can make complex material more legible. They cannot determine whether a substance, setting, or claim is appropriate for any individual.