Research Article
Dr. S. E Oriaifo and Prof. E.
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of furosemide on the cognitive deficits induced by sub-anaesthetic doses of ketamine in healthy volunteers. It was a prospective, single-blind study in which 50 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30 years were randomly selected to receive intravenous 0.4mg/kg of ketamine and placebo and another 50 volunteers matched for age and sex were randomly selected to receive intravenous 0.4mg/kg of ketamine and 0.1mg/kg of furosemide. The Mini-Mental Status Examination was used to score the symptoms of cognitive deficits induced by ketamine. The results showed that ketamine administration induces cognitive deficits in human volunteers and the Mini-Mental Status Examination revealed mild impaired cognitive functioning (average rating at 20 minutes of 16-24). Average duration of the cognitive deficits was 52 ± 12.0 minutes for the ketamine-placebo group and was 20 ± 8.5 minutes for the ketamine-furosemide group. The difference in the duration of symptoms between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the results suggest that furosemide is able to ameliorate the cognitive deficits induced by ketamine.