Historical Pathways for Opioid Addiction, Withdrawal with Traditional and Alternative Treatment Options with Ketamine, Cannabinoids, and Noribogaine: A Narrative Review

Authors

Amber N. Edinoff, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport; Louisiana Addiction Research Center.
Natalie W. Wu, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport.
Catherine A. Nix, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport; Louisiana Addiction Research Center.
Bryce Bonin, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport.
Rama Mouhaffel, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport.
Stephen Vining, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport.
William Gibson, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University New Orleans.
Elyse M. Cornett, Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Shreveport.
Kevin S. Murnane, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport; Louisiana Addiction Research Center; Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport.
Adam M. Kaye, University of the PacificFollow
Alan David Kaye, Louisiana Addiction Research Center, Shreveport; Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Shreveport.

ORCiD

Adam M. Kaye: 0000-0002-7224-3322

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Health Psychology Research

ISSN

2420-8124

Volume

10

Issue

4

DOI

10.52965/001c.38672

First Page

38672

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Abstract

Even as prescription opioid dispensing rates have begun to decrease, the use of illicit opioids such as heroin and fentanyl has increased. Thus, the end of the opioid epidemic is not in sight, and treating patients that are addicted to opioids remains of utmost importance. Currently, the primary pharmacotherapies used to treat opioid addiction over the long term are the opioid antagonist naltrexone, the partial-agonist buprenorphine, and the full agonist methadone. Naloxone is an antagonist used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. While these treatments are well-established and used regularly, the gravity of the opioid epidemic necessitates that all possible avenues of treatment be explored. Therefore, in this narrative review, we analyze current literature regarding use of the alternative medications ketamine, noribogaine, and cannabinoids in treating patients suffering from opioid use disorder. Beyond its use as an anesthetic, ketamine has been shown to have many applications in several medical specialties. Of particular interest to the subject at hand, ketamine is promising in treating individuals addicted to opioids, alcohol, and cocaine. Therapeutically administered cannabinoids have been proposed for the treatment of multiple illnesses. These include, but are not limited to epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain conditions, anxiety disorders, and addiction. The cannabinoid dronabinol has been seen to have varying effects. High doses appear to reduce withdrawal symptoms but this comes at the expense of increased adverse side effects such as sedation and tachycardia. Noribogaine is a weak MOR antagonist and relatively potent KOR agonist, which may explain the clinical anti-addictive effects. More research should be done to assess the viability of these medications for the treatment of OUD and withdrawal.

Recommended Citation

Edinoff, A. N., Wu, N. W., Nix, C. A., Bonin, B., Mouhaffel, R., Vining, S., Gibson, W., Cornett, E. M., Murnane, K. S., Kaye, A. M., & Kaye, A. D. (2022). Historical Pathways for Opioid Addiction, Withdrawal with Traditional and Alternative Treatment Options with Ketamine, Cannabinoids, and Noribogaine: A Narrative Review. Health Psychology Research, 10(4), 38672. DOI: 10.52965/001c.38672
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/phs-facarticles/646

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