ArticleTherapeutic advances in psychopharmacology2026
Sex, drugs, and arousal-two randomized trials on the effects of ketamine on sexual arousal and calcarine gyrus activity.
Article in Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Unraveling the Aesthetic Mind in Anhedonia, Insights From Pharmacological Imaging of the Human Brain: A Single-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Cross-over Study
Investigation of Intranasal Ketamine Related Changes in Attentional Brain Networks With Functional and Structural MRI: a Placebo Controlled, Randomized, Cross-over Trial
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14 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Ketamine, a well-established antidepressant and dissociative anesthetic, is also used recreationally in the club and chemsex scene. Survey and qualitative data suggest that while ketamine facilitates chemsex encounters, it diminishes the intensity of the sexual experience. Objectives: To investigate this phenomenon from a neuroscientific perspective while considering ketamine's sex-specific effects. Design: Two randomized, placebo-controlled crossover studies using intranasal S-ketamine (double-blinded) or intravenous racemic ketamine (single-blinded). Methods: Subjective sexual arousal in response to a newly compiled set of erotic stimuli was assessed following subacute S-ketamine and late racemic ketamine administration across two studies. Overall, 67 healthy volunteers (26 females) participated in the studies. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed during sexual arousal assessment under late racemic ketamine exposure, with both studies also incorporating resting-state fMRI assessments. Results: Subacute S-ketamine reduced sexual arousal to heterosexual stimuli in women (β = -0.21, CI Conclusion: Our results align with reports of diminished sexual arousal under ketamine, while the reduced sexual aversion may play a role in facilitating chemsex. The heightened sexual aversion in women and the distinct calcarine gyrus activity modulation may relate to previously documented sex-dependent ketamine effects on stress resilience and psychosis-like symptoms. Trial registration: Both studies were registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05320120 (2022-04-08), NCT05320107 (2022-04-08).
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