What to Expect

1. Before You Travel

Safety comes first. Ibogaine places real stress on the heart, so careful screening happens before any travel is booked.

• Independent cardiac clearance. A heart evaluation by a physician not connected to the clinic: an ECG, blood work (electrolytes, liver and kidney function) and, where your history calls for it, an echocardiogram. The clinic’s medical team reviews the results before you are accepted.
• 14 days alcohol-free (required). You must be completely alcohol-free for at least 14 days before treatment. If you drink regularly, stopping suddenly can be dangerous, so withdrawal should be supervised by a physician. Please tell us honestly; we will help you plan for this, not judge you.
• Medication review. Some medications are unsafe with ibogaine and may need to be changed or stopped under your doctor’s supervision. Never stop a medication on your own.
• Baseline assessments. Questionnaires about your mood, sleep, substance use, and trauma symptoms, so you and your team can see how things change over time.
• Travel preparation. Passport, travel dates, a support person at home, and what to pack. Our goal is that accepted participants pay nothing for treatment, travel or lodging; we will tell you exactly what is covered before any travel is booked.

2. Arriving at the Clinic in Costa Rica or Mexico

When you arrive, you will be welcomed by staff and given time to settle in. Before treatment begins:

• Medical intake with the clinic’s physician, reviewing your history and current health.
• ECG and lab work to confirm it is safe to proceed.
• A small test dose may be given first so the team can see how your body responds.
• Continuous cardiac monitoring throughout treatment.
• Medical staff present 24 hours a day.

We work only with established, physician-led clinics that meet our standards: continuous cardiac monitoring, medical staff on site 24 hours a day, an emergency transfer plan with a nearby hospital, and ibogaine from a verified, responsibly sourced supply.

3. The Ibogaine Experience (About 24 Hours)

The main treatment usually lasts around a day. Experiences vary, but people often describe phases like these:

• Onset. Within the first hours, effects begin to build. You will be lying down in a quiet, safe room.
• Visionary or dreamlike phase. Many people describe dreamlike images, often reviewing memories or important moments in their lives, sometimes from a new and more distant perspective.
• Introspective phase. The visual effects fade into a long, quieter period of reflection and thinking.

Physical effects you may notice: nausea or vomiting, difficulty walking and poor balance (ataxia), and sensitivity to light and sound. Because of this, you will be asked not to walk without help.

You will be supported throughout. Staff stay with you, check on you, and help with anything you need. You will receive guidance on fasting before treatment and on rest, food, and fluids afterward.

4. Recovery Days at the Clinic

The days after treatment are for rest. It is common to feel very tired, to sleep more or less than usual, and to have a flat or low-energy period that some people call the “grey day.” This is a normal part of recovery. Many people use this quiet time to reflect, journal, or simply be still. Staff continue to monitor your health.

5. Five Days of Behavioral Therapy

Treatment is the beginning, not the end. The planned program includes five days of behavioral therapy to help you make sense of the experience and turn it into lasting change:

• Integration sessions to talk through what came up during treatment.
• Processing insights, including memories and emotions, at your own pace.
• Coping skills for stress, triggers, and difficult days.
• Relapse prevention planning.
• Aftercare planning for your return home.

The five days take place at the clinic, immediately after your recovery days, with licensed therapists experienced in trauma and addiction work with veterans.

6. Returning Home

Coming home is where recovery continues. Your aftercare plan is designed so you are not on your own:

• An integration coach or therapist to keep working with you by phone or video after you are home.
• Peer support from other veterans and first responders who have walked this path.
• Follow-up check-ins and assessments at one, three, six and twelve months. These also build the outcome data we publish.
• Your support person, a family member or friend who knows your plan and can be there for you.

If you are in crisis at any time, call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or call 911 in an emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ibogaine safe?

Ibogaine has serious medical risks, especially to the heart. That is why we require independent cardiac clearance, medical screening, and treatment only at clinics with continuous monitoring and staff present 24 hours a day.

Will I be alone during treatment?

No. Medical staff are present throughout, and you will be checked on regularly.

Can I keep taking my medications?

Some medications are not safe with ibogaine. Your doctors will review everything you take and advise you. Never stop a medication without medical guidance.

What does it cost?

We are raising funds so that accepted veterans and first responders pay nothing for screening, treatment, travel or aftercare. We will be clear with you about exactly what is covered before any travel is booked.

How do I start?