The Effects of Ketamine on Methamphetamine Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety and Drug-Seeking Behaviors in the Rat
bioRxiv Preprint Server June 24, 2025 Marco German Ghilotti, Ricardo Petrilli Fortuna, Kofi Osei-Abrefa Ayensu et al. preprint
Ketamine reduces methamphetamine-seeking behaviors and negative affect in a rat model. Methamphetamine increases glutamate release, activating NMDARs, while ketamine blocks these receptors and promotes synaptogenesis. Rats treated with ketamine showed decreased drug-seeking and withdrawal-related anxiety, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for ketamine in methamphetamine addiction.