Searching for compounds with the therapeutic effects of ibogaine but not its toxicity, researchers found two that eased depression and opioid withdrawal in mice. Since the 1960s, the hallucinogenic drug ibogaine has piqued interest as a potential treatment for opioid addiction. Anecdotal and limited experimental evidence, including claims by some that they no longer had interest in using opioids after taking ibogaine, has fueled this interest. But the drug comes with risks, including heart disorders and death. In a new study, Yale researchers and collaborators identified two compounds that, in experiments with mice, were shown to be more biologically targeted than ibogaine but, like the hallucinogen, ameliorated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal. The findings could inform future drug development and lead to more effective treatments for opioid addiction, researchers say. The study was published on May 2 in Cell. The article Is titled “Structure-Based Discovery of Conformationally Selective Inhibitors of the Serotonin Transporter.”
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