Ketamine for Opioid Use Disorder

This randomised, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial (n=50) will assess the effects of ketamine (52.5mg/70kg, intramuscularly, four times over two weeks) on opioid craving and withdrawal symptoms in adults newly entering methadone treatment for opioid use disorder.

Led by Dr Peter Manza and conducted at the University of Maryland Addiction Programs in Baltimore, this study aims to determine whether ketamine can reduce opioid cravings, alleviate symptoms such as depression and poor sleep, and improve overall treatment outcomes, including retention in methadone therapy.

Participants will receive either ketamine or an active placebo (diphenhydramine 50 mg) on four occasions spaced 1–6 days apart. Follow-up visits and assessments will continue for 90 days post-intake, evaluating craving intensity, depression severity, cue-induced craving, pain, sleep quality, methadone adherence, and broader measures of substance use recovery. This research explores whether ketamine can be a supportive treatment during the critical early stages of opioid use recovery.

Topic Opioid Use Disorder Addiction
Compound Ketamine Placebo
Country United States of America
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