Trump to sign executive order on ibogaine, a psychedelic used abroad for PTSD, to expand US research while keeping it a Schedule I drug

Ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychedelic used abroad for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is set to receive increased scrutiny from the US federal government via an executive order. The Trump administration is drafting the order to signal support for further US research, including potential federal funding aimed at evaluating safety and effectiveness for PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, with particular focus on veterans. Ibogaine remains a Schedule I drug, so Americans who seek treatment may still travel to clinics in places like Mexico or the Caribbean that operate without US oversight. Reporting highlights limited evidence so far, mostly small observational and open-label studies, and notes major safety concerns. Heart rhythm disturbances are described as the most serious risk, including deaths reported in a 2023 review. A small veterans study paired ibogaine with intravenous magnesium to protect the heart, but experts say the evidence is too limited to confirm that magnesium reliably reduces risk.