Drug & supplement interaction

Iboga + Benztropine

Benztropine brand names: Cogentin, Cogentin Injection.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Iboga has a moderate interaction with Benztropine. Theoretically, iboga might decrease the effectiveness of anticholinergic drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Iboga and Benztropine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Benztropine

Benztropine falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS — the group Iboga interacts with.

Theoretically, iboga might decrease the effectiveness of anticholinergic drugs.
In vitro research shows that iboga can inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels. However, the constituent ibogaine does not appear to have this effect.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the idea behind this pairing. Benztropine works by blocking acetylcholine, the nerve messenger that drives tremor and stiffness in Parkinson's. Some lab studies suggest Iboga may do the opposite, nudging acetylcholine levels up by slowing the enzyme that breaks it down. If that happened in the body, it could partly cancel out what benztropine is trying to do, so your tremor, rigidity, or drooling might creep back. The active piece of Iboga, ibogaine, doesn't seem to cause this effect, so this is mostly a theoretical concern.

I'll be honest with you: this is based only on test-tube research, and Iboga carries its own serious heart and safety risks (it's actually illegal in the U.S.). I wouldn't lose sleep over the interaction itself, but please don't change your benztropine on your own. Loop in your doctor or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Alper K, Reith ME, Sershen H. Ibogaine and the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;139(3):879-82. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Iboga Also Interacts With Other Medications

Iboga has 1 major, 500 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Benztropine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 1 Moderate 500 No known interaction 2,329 (incl. Benztropine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Iboga

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Iboga. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Benztropine

This page covers Iboga only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Benztropine page lists 46 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Henbane (major), Scopolia (major), Angel's Trumpet (moderate) and Bacopa (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 32 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Benztropine page

“People usually take benztropine (Cogentin) for Parkinson's tremor or for the stiffness and restlessness antipsychotic drugs can cause, and this is a supplement list to approach with genuine care. Three of its 46 interactions rate major: activated charcoal, which can soak the drug up in the gut before it works, and two alkaloid herbs, h…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Benztropine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Iboga and Benztropine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Iboga
Top half

#562 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Benztropine
Top 25%

#593 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Iboga

What is Iboga?

Iboga
  • Drug and alcohol addiction
  • Opioid withdrawal
  • Spiritual and ceremonial rituals
  • Fatigue and stimulant effects
  • Mood and emotional issues

Iboga is a Central African shrub whose root bark contains ibogaine, a powerful hallucinogenic compound studied mainly for addiction. It carries serious safety risks, including dangerous heart rhythm changes and deaths, and ibogaine is illegal in the United States and many other countries. We do not recommend its use outside of tightly controlled research settings.

Read the full Iboga monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Benztropine

What Is Benztropine Used For?

Brand names: Cogentin, Cogentin Injection

Benztropine mesylate is used as part of the treatment for all forms of parkinsonism — a group of conditions that cause tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement. It is not a cure, but it helps ease symptoms when used alongside other therapies.

It is also used to control extrapyramidal disorders (abnormal, involuntary muscle movements and stiffness) that can be caused by antipsychotic drugs such as phenothiazines. It is not used for tardive dyskinesia (uncontrolled muscle movements that develop after long-term use of certain psychiatric drugs).

See full Benztropine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Iboga

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Iboga — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

1Major
500Moderate
0Minor
2,328No known interaction
1 Major 500 Moderate 2,328 No interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

500 interactions

Showing 60 of 500 moderate interactions — see all 500 on the Iboga page.

No interaction 2,328 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Iboga against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,328 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Iboga list.

See the full Iboga interactions page
See every supplement checked against Benztropine, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Iboga monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Benztropine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Benztropine, ranked by severity Benztropine drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Iboga and Benztropine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Iboga with Benztropine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Iboga and Benztropine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Benztropine and Iboga?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.