Effects of a Single Sub-Anesthetic Dose of Ketamine in Tobacco Use Disorder: An Active-Placebo, Randomized Crossover Study
Nathan R Luzum, Marcia H. Mccall, Charlotte Talley Boyd, Heather Columbano, Edward Ip, Santiago Saldana, Alison Oliveto, Merideth Addicott
Brain Sciences April 30, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3390/brainsci16050496 via OpenAlex
Summary
A single sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine did not significantly reduce the number of cigarettes smoked or affect craving and withdrawal symptoms among adults with tobacco use disorder who were not seeking to quit. In a crossover study involving 18 participants, those receiving ketamine reported more intense psychological experiences and about half felt it was easier to abstain from smoking afterward. Overall, ketamine showed little direct impact on smoking behavior but may improve mood for some individuals.
Study at a glance
| Design | randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 18 |
| Population | adults with tobacco use disorder not interested in changing their smoking behavior |
| Key finding | Ketamine infusion led to a non-significant reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked during the requested abstinence period and showed no effect on craving or withdrawal symptoms. |
Abstract
Background/Objectives: A sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine has shown promise in reducing craving, withdrawal symptoms, and use of drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, and opioids among individuals with substance use disorders. Ketamine’s therapeutic potential for tobacco use is unknown. Here, we investigated a single sub-anesthetic dose among adults with tobacco use disorder who were not interested in changing their smoking behavior. Methods: Utilizing a randomized, within-subject crossover, double-blinded, counter-balanced, midazolam-controlled design, participants (n = 18) received a 0.71 mg/kg infusion of ketamine and a 0.025 mg/kg infusion of midazolam (i.e., active placebo) at least two weeks apart. Participants were asked to abstain from smoking after the infusions until the post-infusion sessions, 1 day following infusion, where participants completed measures of smoking behavior, craving, and withdrawal symptoms. Participants continued to record their smoking behavior over the 7 days following infusion. Participants also completed a semi-structured qualitative interview regarding their experiences. Results: Compared to midazolam, ketamine infusion led to a non-significant reduction (p = 0.10, ηp2 = 0.153) in the number of cigarettes smoked during the requested abstinence period. Following this period, there were no significant differences in ad lib smoking. Ketamine showed no effect on craving or withdrawal symptoms. Participants reported more intense psychological experiences following ketamine infusion (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.830) and about half reported it felt easier to abstain from smoking after the ketamine infusion. Conclusions: While well tolerated, these findings suggest ketamine has little to no direct effect on quantitative measures of cigarette smoking, craving, or withdrawal. However, the qualitative measures suggest ketamine improves mood and reduces craving in some individuals for several days. Future studies should investigate whether ketamine can indirectly support smoking cessation among individuals with comorbid psychiatric indications for ketamine treatment.