Citalopram
Celexa
Ibogaine and Amiodarone
Also known as: Cordarone, Pacerone
Extreme QTc prolongation. Amiodarone has half-life of 40-55 DAYS. Additive QTc with ibogaine is potentially fatal.
Severity
Contraindicated
Mechanism
QT-interval prolongation
Protocol Status
Generally not eligible until alternative management is established
Restart Delay
Physician discretion
What "Contraindicated" Means
Absolute prohibition without an enforced washout. Treatment cannot proceed safely until the medication has been cleared from the body for the protocol's required interval.
Clinical Action
What our medical team does for patients on Amiodarone.
CANNOT safely wash out — half-life too long. Patient may be ineligible for ibogaine treatment.
Where the Washout Happens
Generally not eligible until alternative management is established
Pharmacology (e.g., ultra-long half-life) makes safe washout impractical within any reasonable treatment window. Treatment generally cannot proceed until cardiology or the prescribing physician has established alternative management.
Post-Treatment Restart
Restart at physician discretion once acute window closes.
The Pharmacology
How Amiodarone interacts with ibogaine: qt-interval prolongation.
Ibogaine and noribogaine block the cardiac hERG (IKr) potassium channel, which lengthens ventricular repolarisation and the QTc interval on a 12-lead EKG. Adding a second QT-prolonging drug compounds the effect and raises the risk of torsades de pointes — a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that can be fatal. Every patient receives a baseline EKG, electrolyte panel, and continuous cardiac monitoring; medications in this class must be washed out long enough to return QTc into a safe range.
Same Mechanism
Other medications that interact via qt-interval prolongation.
Same Severity Tier
Other contraindicated medications (different mechanism).
Serotonergic activity (serotonin syndrome)
Fluoxetine
Prozac, Sarafem
Serotonergic activity (serotonin syndrome)
Sertraline
Zoloft
Serotonergic activity (serotonin syndrome)
Paroxetine
Paxil, Pexeva
Serotonergic activity (serotonin syndrome)
Fluvoxamine
Luvox
Serotonergic activity (serotonin syndrome)
Vortioxetine
Trintellix, Brintellix
Serotonergic activity (serotonin syndrome)
Vilazodone
Viibryd
Common Questions
Amiodarone and ibogaine treatment.
Can I take ibogaine if I am on Amiodarone?
Contraindicated. Extreme QTc prolongation. Amiodarone has half-life of 40-55 DAYS. Additive QTc with ibogaine is potentially fatal. CANNOT safely wash out — half-life too long. Patient may be ineligible for ibogaine treatment.
How long do I need to be off Amiodarone before ibogaine treatment?
Generally not eligible until alternative management is established. Pharmacology (e.g., ultra-long half-life) makes safe washout impractical within any reasonable treatment window. Treatment generally cannot proceed until cardiology or the prescribing physician has established alternative management.
What is the mechanism of the interaction?
QT-interval prolongation. Ibogaine and noribogaine block the cardiac hERG (IKr) potassium channel, which lengthens ventricular repolarisation and the QTc interval on a 12-lead EKG. Adding a second QT-prolonging drug compounds the effect and raises the risk of torsades de pointes — a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that can be fatal. Every patient receives a baseline EKG, electrolyte panel, and continuous cardiac monitoring; medications in this class must be washed out long enough to return QTc into a safe range.
Can I switch to a different medication so I can have ibogaine treatment?
In many cases yes. Our medical team works with your prescribing physician to taper or substitute medications safely before treatment. The right substitution depends on the underlying condition you are treating with Amiodarone — contact us for an individual review.
Checking more than one medication? Use the interactive Drug Interaction Checker to screen your full medication list at once.
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DA
Medically reviewed by Dr. Arellano, M.D.
Clinical Director, MindScape Retreat · Board-certified physician specializing in ibogaine-assisted detoxification with over 900 patients treated.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · See full medical team