Date of Award
2025
Degree Name
Pharmaceutical Sciences
College
School of Pharmacy
Type of Degree
M.S.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Dr. Michael Hambuchen
Second Advisor
Dr. Cynthia B Jones
Third Advisor
Dr. Eric Blough
Abstract
Agitation caused by methamphetamine (METH) use is a common and serious issue in emergency settings. While sedatives like benzodiazepines are often used, they can be dangerous, especially when breathing is already compromised due to METH-opioid co-exposure. Dexmedetomidine (DEXMED) is a safer alternative that provides sedation without major effects on breathing, but it can lower heart rate and blood pressure when used at high doses. This thesis project focused on finding whether combining low-dose DEXMED with ketamine (KET) can safely and effectively manage METH-induced agitation in a rat model. Using METH to trigger hyperactivity, we will test whether this combination could reduce agitation and offer better sedation than DEXMED alone while possibly yielding a more so ideal side effect profile than that of higher DEXMED doses.
Subject(s)
Drugs -- Research.
Methamphetamine.
Ketamine.
Sedatives.
Emergency medicine.
Analgesics.
Recommended Citation
Budamkayala, Madhuri, "Dexmedetomidine adjunctive ketamine to enhance attenuation of methamphetamine-induced agitation" (2025). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1998.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1998
