Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, is gaining increasing attention due to its multifaceted pharmacological properties. In addition to its use in anesthesia, ketamine exerts potent analgesic effects via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonism, modulating pain perception and reducing central sensitization, particularly in chronic and neuropathic pain conditions. Emerging...
bioRxiv Preprint ServerJune 24, 2025Marco German Ghilotti, Ricardo Petrilli Fortuna, Kofi Osei-Abrefa Ayensu et al.
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Background The use of methamphetamine has continued to rise in the US. In addition to facilitating dopamine neurotransmission, methamphetamine indirectly increases glutamate release which activates N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Ketamine is a noncompetitive NMDAR antagonist. Ketamine also has actions on α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) and...
Opioid-related overdose deaths have reached record high levels, and novel treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) are needed. The three United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for OUD function primarily at the mu-opioid receptor. While these remain the gold-standard treatment for OUD, they have shortcomings and treatment options separate from the opioid receptor...
Substance Use & MisuseMay 1, 2025Corinne L Chandler, Mance E Buttram, Matthew S Ellis1 citation
Data show that recreational ketamine use appears to be increasing. This study aimed to understand how ketamine fits into broader polysubstance use in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). Survey data were collected from a sample of treatment-seeking individuals with OUD in March 2022. Of 301 respondents, 28.6% reported lifetime ketamine use. Ketamine use was more frequently reported among...
To report the symptoms and aetiology of ketamine use disorder (KUD), gauge the effectiveness of current treatment services and identify strategies to enhance patient access and outcomes. Mixed-methods, cross-sectional questionnaire. Electronic survey from November 2023 to April 2024. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling, social media and referrals from UK addiction treatment...
TrialsApril 17, 2025Arash Mansoori, Amir Bazrafshan, Jamshid Ahmadi et al.4 citations
The concomitant presence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) poses a formidable clinical challenge, warranting effective interventions that address both psychiatric and addictive components. This study sought to compare the efficacy of adjunctive ketamine and buprenorphine in mitigating anxiety symptom severity and craving intensity in individuals with co-occurring...
AddictionApril 4, 2025Asem Abdelrahman, Mo Belal4 citations
Ketamine-induced cystitis is an increasingly recognized complication associated with the addictive use of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic. This article provides a comprehensive overview, focusing on its pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management strategies, and implications for addiction treatment. The British Association of Urological Surgeons consensus serves as a...
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are notoriously difficult to treat due to complex biopsychosocial underpinnings and high relapse rates. Recent evidence positions ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) as a promising intervention for treatment-resistant addiction. This review explores ketamine’s neurobiological mechanisms, its synergistic effect with psychotherapy, and clinical data supporting its...
Ketamine has demonstrated early promise for treating substance use disorder (SUD). Despite the emerging evidence for ketamine-based approaches for SUD, little has been published on the integration of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) with existing pharmacologic, psychosocial, and peer-support approaches to treatment and recovery, including 12-step programs. Here, we present the case of a...
Opioid use disorder (OUD) has reached epidemic proportions, with many countries facing high levels of opioid use and related fatalities. Although currently prescribed medications for OUD are considered lifesaving, they inadequately address negative affect and cognitive impairment, resulting in high relapse rates to nonmedical opioid use even years after drug cessation (protracted abstinence)....