iboga.co.nz
Preparation · Before any decision

Make room for
better questions.

Preparation isn’t a protocol to follow alone. It’s a conversation about your health, the care available, and the support you’ll need—whether or not you go ahead.

Start with your health Your conversation checklist
Four conversations worth having 01Your health comes firstClinical assessment and full disclosure 02Ask about the careCredentials, monitoring, and emergencies 03Plan beyond treatmentPractical support and ongoing care 04Bring it togetherA starting point for your next conversation
01 / CLINICAL ASSESSMENT

Start with your whole health picture.

Speak with a qualified clinician before making treatment or travel arrangements.

Be open about your health and substance use, even when it feels difficult. Missing information can change the risks and the care you need.

  • Gather your medical history. Include heart conditions, fainting, seizures, liver problems, mental health history, and any family history of sudden cardiac death.
  • Bring a complete medication and substance list. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, supplements, alcohol, and other drugs. Share amounts and recent use honestly with your clinician.
  • Ask what assessment is needed. Discuss cardiac assessment, including an ECG, relevant blood tests, and who will interpret the results. Screening does not guarantee safety.
  • Discuss other options. Ask about established treatments, the limits of ibogaine evidence, and what would make a clinician advise against proceeding.

Do not stop, taper, or change medication or substance use on your own to prepare. Withdrawal and interactions can be dangerous; any changes need an individual clinical plan.

Understand the clinical risks
02 / PROVIDER QUESTIONS

Look for clear answers.
Not reassurance alone.

Ask for specifics before paying or committing. You can pause, seek an independent opinion, or decide not to proceed.

Who is responsible for my medical care?

Ask for the names, professional registrations, and relevant experience of the clinicians involved. Who reviews your assessment? Who is physically present, and who makes decisions if your condition changes? Verify credentials with the relevant professional register.

What monitoring and emergency care are available?

Ask how heart rhythm and other vital signs are monitored, who interprets them, and what trained staff and resuscitation equipment are available. Request a clear explanation of emergency escalation and hospital transfer arrangements—not simply a promise that help is nearby.

How are risks and consent explained?

Ask for written information about serious risks, uncertainties, alternatives, and reasons treatment may be declined. You should have time to ask questions without pressure. Guarantees of a cure or claims of “risk-free” treatment are reasons to step back.

What happens if treatment is postponed or stopped?

Clarify cancellation and refund terms, accommodation and travel implications, and who supports you medically if you cannot proceed. Ask how care continues if you experience complications or need a longer stay.

What does follow-up actually include?

Ask who provides follow-up, when it happens, what it costs, and how information will be shared with your usual clinician with your consent. Find out who to contact for concerns after leaving and what requires urgent medical care.

03 / SUPPORT & AFTERCARE

Plan for the days that follow.

Make support concrete before treatment, rather than trying to arrange it afterwards.

Make everyday life easier.

Talk through transport, a safe place to stay, time away from work, and responsibilities at home. Ask the clinical team when travel, driving, and usual activities may be appropriate; don’t assume a fixed recovery timeline.

Choose your support people.

With your consent, involve someone you trust. Agree on check-ins, boundaries, emergency contacts, and what information they need. A friend or whānau member cannot replace clinical monitoring.

Arrange ongoing care.

Plan follow-up with your usual clinician and, where relevant, addiction or mental health services. Counselling, peer support, and realistic routines can be part of longer-term care—not a guarantee of a particular outcome.

Discuss relapse safety.

If opioids are involved, ask about reduced tolerance and overdose risk after abstinence, access to naloxone, and an overdose response plan. Returning to a previously used amount can be fatal.

04 / YOUR NEXT CONVERSATION

A prompt.
Not a green light.

Use these reminders to organise a discussion with a clinician. Ticking every item does not mean you are medically cleared or ready for treatment.

Conversation checklist

0 of 5 reviewed

For this visit only. No answers are saved or sent.

Take any unanswered questions to your clinician.
Treatment Companion App

Keep the bigger
picture in view.

Explore the Treatment Companion App at ibogaine.org.nz as a supporting resource for preparation, support, and life after treatment.

Explore the companion app A supporting resource—not a substitute for clinical care.

Still getting your bearings?

Start with the distinction between iboga, the plant, and ibogaine, one of its compounds. Understanding what is being discussed is part of informed preparation.

Understand iboga and ibogaine

Continue exploring these related resources

ibogaine.nz Treatment Companion