Ketamine subcutaneous continuous infusion for depressive symptoms at home: A case report beyond pain use.
Palliative & supportive care October 1, 2024 Carolina Simões, Miguel Julião, Patrícia Calaveiras et al. 1 citation
A 70-year-old man with stage IV renal carcinoma and bone metastasis experienced neuropathic pain, depression, and a persistent desire for death. Continuous subcutaneous infusion of morphine 30 mg and ketamine, increased to 250 mg/day over 28 days, led to overall improvement in neuropathic pain, depressive symptoms, and other end-of-life psychological distress. Minor psychological side effects were controlled with midazolam in the infusion. The case highlights the benefit of the subcutaneous route for ketamine therapy in palliative patients cared for at home, an alternative to intravenous or oral formulas used in hospice care.