Ultra-Low-Dose Ketamine May Offer Relief For Opioid Withdrawal, Study Finds

A recent pilot study from the University of Washington School of Medicine shows a low dosage of ketamine can reduce or help eliminate withdrawal symptoms from fentanyl addiction.

Medical journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice published the results Tuesday.

A 16-milligram dose of ketamine helped patients transition to buprenorphine treatment, a common opioid addiction therapy, researchers determined.

Study Scope And Findings

The research team, led by Dr. Lucinda Grande, administered ketamine to 37 patients over 14 months. Of the 24 patients who tried the treatment, 16 completed the transition to buprenorphine, with 92% of the last 12 remaining in treatment for at least 30 days. Patients reported a significant reduction in withdrawal symptoms after each dose, with effects lasting for hours.

Dr. Tom Hutch, co-author of the study, emphasized that ketamine could serve as a “bridge” for patients unable to start treatments like buprenorphine or methadone due to the severity of withdrawal symptoms. The dosage used in the study was a fraction of that used for anesthesia and was significantly lower than doses prescribed for depression, which is another growing use of the drug.

The 16 mg dose is a small fraction of that typically used for anesthesia, the main clinical role of ketamine, according to Grande. That dosage also is less than half of the smallest ketamine dose prescribed for depression treatment, an increasingly common use of this medication.

See Also: DEA Warns Of Crackdown On Ketamine Prescribing Following Matthew Perry’s Death

Ketamine In The Public Spotlight

Ketamine has been in the public eye since medical examiners determined late actor Matthew Perry overdosed from high-dose ketamine treatment for depression.

"Our study underscores the enormous potential of this drug to address important health problems such as depression, chronic pain and, now, fentanyl use disorder," Grande says. The positive attributes of ketamine have been overshadowed by Perry’s death, she adds.

Grande hopes the results of this pilot study will be confirmed in larger studies. "I’m excited about these results," she said. "It’s a wonderful opportunity to save lives."

Now Read:

• Elon Musk On Ketamine And Investors’ Value: ‘If There Is Something I’m Taking, I Should Keep Taking It’

Cover image made with AI