Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate as an Adjunct to Intravenous Ketamine for Acute Pain: A Case Series.
Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy June 1, 2025 Nathan Smith, Sanny Juresic, Kia Lor et al.
A case series of three patients with complex medical histories experienced improved postoperative pain relief when intravenous magnesium sulfate was given together with ketamine. Both drugs block NMDA receptors, which are involved in pain signaling. The report describes difficulties in managing pain after surgery in these patients and notes the beneficial effect of adding magnesium to ketamine. The authors call for more research to determine which patients benefit most and what doses work best.