Ibogaine is a naturally occuring alkaloid found in West African shrub, Tabernanthe iboga a hundred years ago. During past decade, anecdotal reports have led to the hypothesis that ibogaine possesses anti-addictive propaties. Pre clinical studies has been shown that ibogaine was effective in treating opiate (heroine) addiction and stimulant (cocaine, amphetamine) abuse, respectively.
A single oral treatment of ibogaine or its salts in doses of 6 to 19 mg/kg is effective for about 6 months, while series of four treatment may be eliminated addictive behavior for about 6 months. Animal studies of ibogaine has been shown to reduce self - administration of both morphine and cocaine. How ever ibogaine posseses acute non specific side effects such as tremours3 as well as neurotoxic effects such as degeneration of braine cells (purkinje cells). These side effects of ibogaine as well as psycopharmacology are likely to preclude ibogaine’s general therapeutic utility in man. How ever an earlier pharmacological study of related iboga alkaloid suggeted to us that the structurally related natural alkaloid coronaridine might not be tremorigenic. Consequently, we focused our attention on search for a more potent, non-neurotoxic, anti addictive coronaridine congener collaboration with Albany Medical College, New York.
18-MC, A NEW DRUG FOR THE ADDICTION WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS ?
18-MC (18-Methoxycoronoridine, 18-MC) is a synthetic analouge of ibogaine. This drug was first synthesized by Upul Bandarage at University of Vermont in 1995 and biological aspects were evaluated by pharmacology team at Albany Medical college, NY.
18-MC has showed good efficacy and specificity in reducing self-adminstration of morphine, cocaine, alcohol and nicotine without adverse side effects in pre clinical trials. (tremorigenic or other neurotoxic side effects) Furthermore, 18-MC's absence of interaction with serotogeneric system suggests that, in contrast to ibogaine, it is unlikely to be a hallucinogen. Attenuation of five of seven signs of morphine withdrawal in rats indicates that 18-MC is likely to ameliorate symptoms of opioid dependence in humans.
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