Michael Hambuchen, PharmD, PhD, with Marshall’s School of Pharmacy and Todd Davies, PhD, at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, are studying the use of dexmedetomidine-naloxone for treatment. Their preclinical study was published in the Journal of Pharmacy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and is available here.
Currently, benzodiazepines like Valium are the standard treatment for calming patients experiencing meth-induced agitation. However, as polysubstance use becomes more common, this approach carries increased risk of breathing issues, which can be fatal in some cases.
Hambuchen, an associate professor of pharmaceutical science, said the team tested the combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine to produce more intense sedation without the effects of breathing suppression.
“While both high-dose dexmedetomidine and low-dose dexmedetomidine plus ketamine almost completely controlled methamphetamine-induced agitation in rats, the early sedation was deeper and side effects were less intense with the use of the combination,” Hambuchen said.
Davies, associate director of research and development in the department of family and community health’s division of addiction sciences at the school of medicine, said the research is promising.
“Dexmedetomidine is uniquely suited to sedation in this clinical scenario as it doesn’t impair breathing, even with opioids present. We are hoping that this will become a tool for clinical care,” Davies said.
For more information about this study, contact Hambuchen at 304-696-7297