Ketamine in Chronic Pain: A Review.
Cureus February 1, 2024 Ana Faísco, Rita Dinis, Tânia Seixas et al. 8 citations
Ketamine is used to treat pain syndromes, especially those involving nerve damage. At sub-anesthetic doses, it produces strong pain relief by blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and boosting descending inhibitory pathways. Its short-term pain relief is well-documented in surgical settings, where it also reduces chronic postoperative pain and opioid use. Evidence for long-term benefits remains limited due to few clinical studies. Ketamine also has antidepressant effects, which may help chronic pain patients. Side effects, particularly psychomimetic ones, can hinder treatment adherence. Co-administering ketamine with benzodiazepines or α2-agonists improves its clinical use. More research is needed on long-term safety and risk-benefit analysis.