Management of Ketamine Abuse with Dextromethorphan-Bupropion & Naltrexone
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Abstract
Background: Ketamine abuse has been documented as early as the 1970s. Effects of Ketamine intoxication include, but are not limited to, sedation; dream-like states; auditory hallucinations; and visual hallucinations. Long-term abuse has been linked to a variety of pathologies including nephrotoxicity and urinary bladder dysfunction. Despite the degree of harm Ketamine abuse may cause patients, there remains a paucity of literature on how best to manage the condition. Case Presentation: Our case concerns a 20-year male with a history of depression and substance abuse. In the antecedent weeks, the patient had experienced worsening of his depressive symptoms and his Ketamine abuse. The patient was thereafter treated with psychotropic medication, including Dextromethorphan-Bupropion which led to a dramatic improvement in his condition and was thereafter also given Naltrexone therapy to better enhance his abstinence from substance abuse. Conclusion: This article highlights the challenges faced in the management of Ketamine abuse patients, especially in the context of comorbidities such as depression. Here we have highlighted the potential for Dextromethorphan & Bupropion based rapid acting antidepressant therapy along with Naltrexone for the management of patients suffering from this condition.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sagar Sanjeev Dua, Eunsaem Lee, Namitha Maria Mathew, Rithika Narravula, Mina Oza, Eric Wang, Tornike Phagava, Yasmine Busaibe, Parinda Parikh
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons License All articles published in Annals of Medicine and Medical Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Sagar Sanjeev Dua, West Delhi Psychiatry Centre, Delhi, India.
West Delhi Psychiatry Centre, Delhi, India.
Eunsaem Lee, Department of Psychiatry, Hangil Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea.
Department of Psychiatry, Hangil Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea.
Namitha Maria Mathew, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
Rithika Narravula, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Mina Oza, 2ND ARC Associates, White Plains, USA.
2ND ARC Associates, White Plains, USA.
Eric Wang, Edgemont Junior Senior High School, New York, USA.
Edgemont Junior Senior High School, New York, USA.
Tornike Phagava, Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Parinda Parikh, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, USA.
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