iboga.org.nz
Before treatment

Prepare your
questions.

A useful starting point is not a treatment date. It is an honest conversation about your health, the risks, your options, and who will support you afterwards.

Start with your clinician
01 / THE CLINICAL CONVERSATION

Start with your health.
Not a provider’s promise.

Talk with a qualified clinician who knows your history, ideally before making bookings or financial commitments. Be open about substance use and what you hope will change.

Need the foundations first?

Bring the full picture

  • A complete list of prescribed medicines, over-the-counter products, supplements, and substances used, including recent changes.
  • Your medical and mental health history, including heart problems, fainting, seizures, and relevant family history.
  • Previous treatment experiences, current support, and any concerns about withdrawal or your immediate safety.

Questions worth asking

  • What are the risks in my situation, and what would make this unsuitable for me?
  • What established treatment options could address my goals, and how do their benefits and risks compare?
  • What assessment is needed, including heart rhythm testing (ECG), blood tests, and a review of interactions? Who will interpret the results?
  • If I am physically dependent on a substance, how can withdrawal be managed safely?
Do not make medication changes on your own. Ask your prescribing clinician to coordinate any plan. Screening does not remove the possibility of a serious adverse event.
02 / LOOK BEYOND THE CLAIMS

Ask for clear answers.
In writing.

A reassuring website or testimonial is not evidence of safe care. Ask who is accountable, what is available on site, and what happens when something goes wrong.

Use these prompts to evaluate a provider’s answers with your clinician. No checklist can certify that a provider or treatment is safe.

Who is responsible for my medical care?

Ask for the names, qualifications, and current professional registration of the clinicians involved. Who performs the assessment, who is present during treatment, and who covers overnight care? Verify credentials independently with the relevant regulator.

What screening and monitoring take place?

Ask what conditions or test results would rule treatment out, how medication and substance interactions are reviewed, and how heart rhythm and other vital signs are monitored. Who reviews changes and can act immediately? Ask how long monitoring continues and how discharge is decided.

What is the emergency plan?

Ask what resuscitation equipment and trained personnel are on site, how an emergency is recognised, and how hospital transfer is arranged. “We have never had a problem” is not an emergency plan.

What am I consenting to—and paying for?

Request written information about the proposed treatment, uncertainties, serious risks, alternatives, total costs, and cancellation terms. Ask how you can decline or withdraw consent, how your privacy is protected, and how to raise a concern.

Who provides follow-up care?

Ask who you can contact after leaving, what follow-up is included, and how your local care team will receive a handover with your consent. Clarify what happens if symptoms persist, your mental health worsens, or you return to substance use.

Reasons to pause: guaranteed cures, pressure to pay quickly, advice to hide substance use or stop medicines without your prescriber, or reluctance to explain medical oversight. Take unresolved concerns back to an independent clinician.
03 / CARE BEYOND THE APPOINTMENT

Build the support plan
before you need it.

Practical and emotional support are part of the decision—not something to arrange only after treatment.

Explore aftercare

  1. Choose your people

    With your consent, involve a trusted friend, whānau member, or support person. Agree what they need to know and how they can help without taking over your decisions.

  2. Arrange continuity of care

    Discuss follow-up with your GP, addiction service, or mental health clinician. Make a plan for worsening symptoms, cravings, and urgent support. If opioid use is relevant, ask about reduced tolerance, overdose risk, and access to naloxone.

  3. Make room for everyday needs

    Consider safe transport, accommodation, time away from work, childcare, and costs. Ask your clinician what support and activity restrictions may be needed rather than assuming you can return to your usual routine immediately.

For your next conversation

0 of 4 gathered

Tick what you have brought together. This is a conversation checklist, not a measure of treatment readiness.

Ticks stay on this page only and are not saved or sent.

Treatment Companion App

Keep the bigger picture in view.

Explore the Treatment Companion App alongside this guide and your care team’s advice as you consider preparation and ongoing support.

Explore the Companion App

ibogaine.org.nz · External website
A digital resource does not replace medical assessment, monitoring, or emergency care.

The next conversation is about aftercare.

Think beyond the experience to the care and routines that follow.

Support beyond treatment

More context, alongside these preparation resources.

Continue reading at ibogaine.nz