R-(-)-ketamine modifies behavioral effects of morphine predicting efficacy as a novel therapy for opioid use disorder.
Jeffrey M. Witkin, J. Kranzler, K. Kaniecki, Piotr Popik, J. Smith, Kenji Hashimoto, J. Sporn
Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior April 22, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172927 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Morphine-dependent rats and mice |
| Intervention | (R)-ketamine |
| Topics | Addiction Esketamine Ketamine |
| Citations | 33 |
| Key points | (R)-ketamine alleviated withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats and blocked morphine-induced place preference in mice without inducing place preference or anhedonia. |
Abstract
Substance abuse disorder continues to have devastating consequences for individuals and society and current therapies are not sufficient to provide the magnitude of medical impact required. Although some evidence suggests the use of ketamine in treating various substance use related- symptoms, its adverse event profile including dissociation, dysphoria, and abuse liability limit its potential as a therapy. Here, we outline experiments to test our hypothesis that (R)-ketamine can both alleviate withdrawal symptoms and produce effects that help sustain abstinence. In morphine-dependent rats, (R)-ketamine alleviated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs. (R)-ketamine also blocked morphine-induced place preference in mice without inducing place preference on its own. We also evaluated whether (R)-ketamine would induce anhedonia, a counter-indicated effect for a drug abuse treatment agent. S-(+)- but not R-(-)-ketamine produced anhedonia-like responses in rats that electrically self-stimulated the medial forebrain bundle (ICSS). However, time-course studies of ICSS are needed to fully appreciate these differences. These data begin to support the claim that (R)-ketamine will dampen withdrawal symptoms and drug liking, factors known to contribute to the cycle of drug addiction. In addition, these data suggest that (R)-ketamine would not produce negative mood or anhedonia that could interfere with treatment. It is suggested that continued investigation of (R)-ketamine as a novel therapeutic for substance abuse disorder be given consideration by the preclinical and clinical research communities. This suggestion is further encouraged by a recent report on the efficacy of (R)-ketamine in treatment-resistant depressed patients at a dose with nearly no measurable dissociative side-effects.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ketamine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The effects of (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine on oxycodone withdrawal and reinstatement. Male and female oxycodone-dependent mice | 2023 | Preclinical study | |
| Characterizing the therapeutical use of ketamine for adolescent rats of both sexes: Antidepressant-like efficacy and safety profile. Adolescent rats of both sexes, including naïve and early-life stressed (maternal... | 2025 | Preclinical study | |
| Exploring ketamine's reinforcement, cue-induced reinstatement, and nucleus accumbens cFos activation in male and female long evans rats. Long Evans rats | 2024 | Preclinical experimental study | |
| Brain acid sphingomyelinase controls addiction-related behaviours in a sex-specific way. Male and female mice with forebrain ASM overexpression | 2025 | Experimental study | |
| Cannabidiol or ketamine for preventing the impact of adolescent early drug initiation on voluntary ethanol consumption in adulthood. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats | 2024 | Preclinical study |