2-Fluorodeschloroketamine has similar abuse potential as ketamine.
Feng Li, Han Du, Bo Wu, Jiayun Wei, Yanling Qiao, Miaojun Lai, Wenhua Zhou, Haowei Shen, Youmei Wang, Peng Xu, Bin Di
Addiction Biology May 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13171 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Interventions | 2-FDCK ketamine |
| Dose | 3 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg/infusion, 1 mg/kg |
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | 2-fluorodeschloroketamine Conditioned place preference Drug discrimination Drug self-administration Locomotor sensitization |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | 2-FDCK has an abuse potential comparable to ketamine across multiple behavioral tests in mice. |
Abstract
2-Fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK) as a substitute for ketamine has emerged among drug abusers in recent years. However, 2-FDCK has not been controlled or regulated in many countries, which may be partly related to the lack of evidence on its abuse potential. In this study, we evaluated the abuse potential of 2-FDCK via the tests of the conditioned place preference (CPP), locomotor sensitization, drug self-administration and drug discrimination using ketamine as a reference. 2-FDCK induced significant CPP at a minimum dose of 3 mg/kg in mice, an effect comparable with that of ketamine (3 mg/kg). Acute injections of 2-FDCK or ketamine at 30 mg/kg enhanced locomotor activity. Repeated treatments with this dose of 2-FDCK and ketamine induced locomotor sensitization after withdrawal. 2-FDCK readily induced self-administration with 0.5 mg/kg/infusion, the same dose for ketamine, and induced the highest seeking response at 1 mg/kg. Drug discrimination test showed that 2-FDCK dose-dependently substitute for ketamine with comparable ED50 to ketamine in substitution testing. Taken together, these results strongly suggested that 2-FDCK has an abuse potential comparable with ketamine.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| mTOR-Dependent Synapse Formation Underlies the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of NMDA Antagonists Rats | 2010 | Observational study | |
| Activation of Glutamatergic Neurotransmission by Ketamine: A Novel Step in the Pathway from NMDA Receptor Blockade to Dopaminergic and Cognitive Disruptions Associated with the Prefrontal Cortex Conscious rats | 1997 | Dose-response study with microdialysis and behavioral testing | |
| NMDAR inhibition-independent antidepressant actions of ketamine metabolites Mice | 2016 | Preclinical study | |
| The dissociative anaesthetics, ketamine and phencyclidine, selectively reduce excitation of central mammalian neurones by N‐methyl‐aspartate Spinal neurons in decerebrate or pentobarbitone-anaesthetized cats and rats | 1983 | Experimental study | |
| R-ketamine: a rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant without psychotomimetic side effects Mice | 2015 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Fluorodeschloroketamine found as a street drug in drug seizures and drug driving cases in Hong Kong. Forensic Science International August 1, 2024
- “Becoming Your Own Psychologist”: Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) for Mood and Anxiety Disorder Self-Medication Psychoactives August 20, 2025
- Emerging new psychoactive ketamine analogues: patterns of use and health risks identified by the French Addictovigilance Network. International Journal of Drug Policy July 1, 2026
- Phencyclidine-Like Abuse Liability and Psychosis-Like Neurocognitive Effects of Novel Arylcyclohexylamine Drugs of Abuse in Rodents Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics January 25, 2024
Cites 7
- From PCP to MXE: a comprehensive review of the non-medical use of dissociative drugs. Drug Testing and Analysis 2014
- Overlap in the neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms underlying ketamine abuse and its use as an antidepressant. Behavioural Brain Research February 13, 2020
- Cluster of acute poisonings associated with an emerging ketamine analogue, 2-oxo-PCE. Forensic Science International September 1, 2018
- 1,2-Diarylethylamine- and Ketamine-Based New Psychoactive Substances. Handbook of experimental pharmacology 2018
- The ketamine analogue methoxetamine generalizes to ketamine discriminative stimulus in rats. Behavioural Pharmacology April 1, 2016
and 2 more in the library