In mice, a tremor-inducing dose of ibogaine did not relieve pain on its own but made morphine more effective at relieving pain. In morphine-dependent mice, ibogaine did not reduce withdrawal symptoms; instead, it increased the number of vertical jumps caused by naloxone, a drug that triggers withdrawal. This effect was specific to opioid withdrawal, as ibogaine did not alter jumping caused by a different drug. The results indicate that ibogaine modulates morphine's pain-relieving effects but does not lessen opioid withdrawal signs in mice, contrasting with reports of it alleviating opiate dependence in humans.
About 2.6% of drivers who tested positive for drugs in roadside checks in northeastern France over 32 months (2020–2023) had ketamine in their oral fluid. Among 88 ketamine-positive drivers, 80.7% were male, 95.4% used multiple drugs, and their average age was 27.5 years. Ketamine concentrations averaged 821 ng/mL when norketamine was also present and 7.8 ng/mL when it was absent. Roughly 26% of ketamine-positive drivers had oral fluid levels potentially linked to impaired driving. The authors suggest adding ketamine and norketamine to routine oral fluid drug testing for driving under the influence.
In the New York metropolitan area, over a third of clinics advertising ketamine for psychiatric conditions offer it for at-home use, raising safety concerns. A 2025 systematic web search identified 233 clinics; 36.5% prescribed ketamine for at-home use, 51.5% listed a medical doctor, 42.9% advertised oral ketamine, and depression was the most common condition treated (94.0%). Clinics advertising oral ketamine were over four times more likely to offer at-home use, while those listing a medical doctor were about half as likely. The findings suggest a consumer-oriented advertising approach that may warrant monitoring and clearer guidance to mitigate safety risks.
Ephenidine, diphenidine, and methoxphenidine are dissociative anesthetics that block NMDA receptors and were recently classified as narcotics in France. A retrospective analysis of 18 serious cases reported to the French Addictovigilance Network from 2012 to 2016 found the number of cases increased over time, mostly involving methoxphenidine. Most cases were considered possible due to polysubstance abuse, with two probable. Clinical complications were minor in five cases, moderate in six, and serious in four, including psychiatric, neurologic, and cardiovascular problems. The addictive potential appears highly probable, but further research is needed to limit harm.