OUD Med Prolongs Ketamine’s Reduction in Suicidal Ideation
A recent study found that buprenorphine can prolong the reduction of suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder after ketamine treatment. The trial showed a significant decrease in suicidal thoughts among those receiving buprenorphine compared to a placebo. These findings suggest a potential new treatment strategy for reducing suicidality in depression.
- ▪Buprenorphine prolonged the reduction in suicidal ideation following ketamine treatment in patients with major depressive disorder.
- ▪Patients receiving buprenorphine experienced a 76% reduction in suicidal ideation at week 4 compared to 43% for the placebo group.
- ▪The study indicates a different biological mechanism between depression symptoms and suicidal symptoms.
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SAN FRANCISCO — Buprenorphine — a medication commonly used to treat opioid use disorder — prolonged the reduction in suicidal ideation following treatment with ketamine in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).Results of the randomized controlled trial showed that after a single infusion with ketamine, patients given low doses of buprenorphine experienced significant decreases in suicidal ideation, with a 76% reduction at week 4 compared with 43% for placebo.This is the second trial that has shown that buprenorphine at low doses reduces suicidal ideation in MDD.“However, unlike earlier reports, the degree of reduction was enhanced markedly by pretreating with intravenous ketamine,” principal investigator Alan Schatzberg, MD, said in a press briefing.“The similarities of the…
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