Brief report: Ketamine-assisted "bridge therapy" for opioid tapering in complex cases.
The American journal on addictions – January 28, 2026
Source: PubMed
Summary
A 25-year-old woman struggling with opioid use disorder, chronic pain, and major depression successfully cut her methadone dosage by 50%. Over an eight-week period, she received weekly intravenous ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg) alongside her opioid taper. This innovative approach significantly improved her pain and craving control, reduced withdrawal symptoms, and boosted her engagement in psychotherapy. Ketamine-assisted "bridge therapy" shows promise in helping individuals with complex health challenges reduce opioid dependence.
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) presents major challenges, especially when combined with chronic pain and psychiatric comorbidities. A 25-year-old woman with OUD, chronic pain, and major depressive disorder underwent an 8-week protocol of intravenous ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg weekly) as an adjunct to opioid tapering. Methadone dosage was reduced by 50%, with improved pain and craving control, reduced withdrawal symptoms, and greater psychotherapy engagement. Ketamine-assisted "bridge therapy" treatment may support opioid tapering in complex cases. This is a novel report to document a multifaceted improvement in this specific comorbidity cluster.