Shahab Ahmadzadeh

Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.

2 papers in the library · 8 citations · publishing 2025

Papers

Ketamine Infusion for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Treatment: A Narrative Review.

Current pain and headache reports January 14, 2025 Alan D Kaye, Brynne E Tynes, Coplen D Johnson et al. 6 citations

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition where pain is much greater than expected from the initial injury and lasts a long time. Many standard treatments have been unsatisfactory. Ketamine, a drug that blocks NMDA receptors and is normally used for anesthesia and pain relief, shows promise for CRPS patients who do not respond to usual therapies. Multiple studies report significant improvements in pain severity, limb mobility, and other measures after ketamine infusion. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache, or psychotropic symptoms were uncommon and reversible by stopping the drug. More research is needed on optimal dosing and duration, but ketamine appears safe and effective for difficult CRPS cases. This review summarizes current knowledge on ketamine infusions for CRPS to help physicians weigh benefits and risks.

DOI: 10.1007/s11916-025-01360-9 Full text Narrative review Pain management Ketamine therapy Crps treatment +2

Efficacy of Ketamine Infusion for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Patients with Chronic Pain: a Narrative Review.

Current pain and headache reports December 15, 2025 Alan D Kaye, Madison C Wolf, Sarah I Dufour et al. 2 citations

Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, shows promise as an adjunctive treatment for patients with both chronic pain and opioid use disorder. It blocks NMDA receptors, reducing neural excitability and promoting neuroplastic changes that may help manage pain and reduce opioid dependence. Clinical studies suggest ketamine can reduce pain severity, decrease opioid consumption, and alleviate withdrawal symptoms in select populations. However, evidence is limited by small sample sizes, non-standardized protocols, and short follow-up periods. Side effects include dissociative symptoms, sympathomimetic activity, and potential for misuse, requiring careful patient selection and monitoring. Ketamine is a promising option in multimodal care when conventional therapies fail, but further research is needed.

DOI: 10.1007/s11916-025-01437-5 Full text Opioid use disorder Addiction treatment Analgesia Chronic pain +3