Use of Ketamine in Ameliorating Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms During an Induction Phase of Buprenorphine

Omoigui Sota

doi:10.2174/1876386301104010001

Abstract

Ketamine can be used in the treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms. Here are two case discussions of treatment of withdrawal symptoms in opioid dependent patients undergoing detoxification. Our case reports endorse the hypothesis that N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists may selectively inhibit the expression of opiate withdrawal. The use of intravenous ketamine can be considered as a bridge to successful initiation of buprenorphine to wean the patient off from high opioid doses while providing adequate analgesia during the transition period.

Highlights

Opiate withdrawal occurs when a person dependent on opiates abruptly stops taking the drug
Some studies have suggested that the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala are regions activated during opiate withdrawal [1]
Ketamine is classified as a dissociative anesthetic and an N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Opiate withdrawal occurs when a person dependent on opiates abruptly stops taking the drug. The patient reported that the nausea and vomiting had stopped completely, and the frequency of diarrhea had decreased from 9 to 10 episodes per day to 3 to 4 episodes per day Her pain decreased from a level of 9 out of 10 on the pain scale to 5 out of 10 during the withdrawal period, which enabled her to manage herself more comfortably during her titration phase of Suboxone as she continued with treatment. When the patient presented to the clinic on the third day of his treatment with Suboxone, he reported that his cold sweats had gone away, and so had his runny nose He still had a headache, graded at 3 out of 10 on the pain scale, and light still bothered his eyes a little. A follow up after two months since his first visit to the clinic revealed that patient was completely withdrawal free accomplishing another successful shift to buprenorphine

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

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