Adjunctive ketamine vs. buprenorphine in co-occurring major depressive disorder and opioid use disorder: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial assessing anxiety symptom severity and craving intensity.
Trials April 17, 2025 Arash Mansoori, Amir Bazrafshan, Jamshid Ahmadi et al. 4 citations
For people with both major depressive disorder and opioid use disorder, a randomized clinical trial compared the effects of adding either ketamine or buprenorphine to standard treatments. Ketamine produced a rapid and substantial reduction in anxiety symptoms within hours, along with a pronounced decline in opioid craving. Buprenorphine led to a more gradual but sustained improvement in anxiety over several days, with a modest initial reduction in craving that persisted afterward. Both drugs reduced anxiety and craving, but through different time courses.