Cureus
January 1, 2025
Mitchell B Liester
A woman with primary Raynaud's phenomenon experienced significant symptom improvement while receiving low-dose sublingual ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine, an FDA-approved anesthetic, has vasodilatory properties that may enhance blood flow and reduce vascular constriction. This case report suggests that ketamine could be a safe and inexpensive treatment for Raynaud's phenomenon, warranting further research.
Cureus
December 1, 2024
Ahmed Z Salama, Mohammad R Dabash, Abdullah Elayan et al.
Dissociative trance disorder, a type of other specified dissociative disorder, involves abrupt loss of awareness, unresponsiveness, and involuntary actions, with individuals feeling separated from their body as if controlled by an external force. A 22-year-old patient with no prior criminal history experienced episodes of decreased consciousness, altered identity, and involuntary movements, perceived as external control, culminating in a tragic event where she killed her children. After ruling out psychotic disorders, organic factors, and substance abuse, dissociative trance disorder was diagnosed. Treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines improved symptoms.
Cureus
November 1, 2024
Bárbara L Mesquita, Daniela Jeremias, Ana Margarida Fraga et al.
A middle-aged man with no prior psychiatric history developed visual and persisting auditory hallucinations for months after recovering from very severe COVID-19. While hospitalized, he also reported a near-death experience and seeing his deceased father. The connection between the virus and neuropsychiatric symptoms is thought to arise from direct and indirect impacts on the brain. The case highlights the need for research into adequate interventions for severe neuropsychiatric manifestations following COVID-19.
Cureus
November 1, 2024
Catherine R La Spina, Patricia Pozo, Gisele J Wakim
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain disorder that often follows trauma, causing severe pain and autonomic disturbances. Managing CRPS is difficult because no FDA-approved medications exist, and off-label treatments like NSAIDs, corticosteroids, gabapentin, antidepressants, and bisphosphonates have limited or varying efficacy. Surgical options such as nerve blocks and spinal cord stimulation can help but have inconsistent success. A case study describes a patient with a treatment-resistant CRPS flare-up managed through revision neurolysis of the sciatic, tibial, and perineal nerves, release of the right tibial nerve, and intraoperative ketamine.
Cureus
November 1, 2024
Ayoyimika O Okunlola, Syahmina Sufrian, Temitope O Ajao et al.
Chronic abuse of ketamine as a recreational drug can cause damage to multiple organs. In a 24-year-old patient with no prior medical issues, the toxic metabolites of ketamine led to dysfunctions including acute kidney injury, acute systolic dysfunction, gastric dilatation, hydronephrosis, and ketamine-induced cholestasis. Stopping ketamine use is the primary treatment; other interventions offer only partial relief from the harm caused.
Cureus
October 1, 2024
Sana Rahman, Samiya Saher, Anurag Raje et al.
A 34-year-old woman who used about 5 grams of ketamine daily for two years starting at age 25 developed stage 3 chronic kidney disease and severe urinary complications, including dysuria, flank pain, burning micturition, ketamine-associated cystitis, and renal failure from hydronephrosis. Even after stopping ketamine five years ago, she still needs ureteral stents for recurrent hydronephrosis and ureteral obstruction. Early cessation of ketamine often resolves ulcerative cystitis and ureteral obstruction, but that did not happen in this patient. The case underscores the need to suspect ketamine abuse in young patients with ureteral problems and hydronephrosis, and to pursue early detection, ongoing follow-up, and a comprehensive treatment approach.
Cureus
September 1, 2024
Kaustuv Das, Jayshree Sen, Aishwarya S Borode
Ketamine, known for blocking NMDA receptors, also enhances AMPA receptor function, which may improve sensory processing in the somatosensory cortex. This review of preclinical and clinical studies suggests that ketamine's modulation of AMPA receptors, which are crucial for fast excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity, contributes to its therapeutic effects, including rapid antidepressant action. The findings indicate potential for ketamine-based therapies to treat sensory processing disorders and refine treatment strategies for mood disorders. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could guide targeted interventions.
Cureus
August 1, 2024
Madalena Carvalho, Ana Teresa Guerra, Marta Moniz et al.
Intravenous sedation with ketamine and midazolam is a safe method for painful procedures in children, with a low rate of adverse events. In a pediatric emergency department in Portugal, 615 children (median age 6 years) received sedation, mostly for wound suturing (50.9%) or fracture reduction (36.3%). Ketamine was used in 99.2% of cases and midazolam in 95.8%, with 93.8% receiving both. Adverse events occurred in 8.1% of patients, most commonly transient oxygen desaturation (2%), vomiting (1.5%), apnea or bradypnea (1%), and hallucinations (0.8%). Respiratory complications resolved without invasive interventions. The occurrence of adverse events was not dose-dependent.
Cureus
August 1, 2024
Priyanka Saraswati, Satish Kanaujia, Bhuwan Chandra Kapri
A six-week yoga program involving pranayama and meditation improved sleep quality, reduced stress and anxiety, increased mindfulness, and decreased psychological rigidity and experience avoidance in recreational athletes aged 18 to 45. The study included 44 athletes from Banaras Hindu University, most of whom were male and had over two years of sports experience. Significant pre- to post-intervention differences were observed across all measured outcomes, including stress, sleep, anxiety, mindfulness, psychological rigidity, and experience avoidance. Stress alleviation and reduced anxiety were the strongest predictors of improved psychological flexibility.
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Indushree Manjunath, Varun Channappa, Aditya Karthikeyan
Yoga can serve as a supplementary therapy for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), improving symptoms and associated issues like stress, depression, and anxiety. A review of seven articles indicates that yoga interventions help create a more supportive family environment, fostering growth. This nonpharmacological approach addresses parental concerns about stimulant medication side effects in young children.
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Sabastain F Forsah, Bibi Razak, Divine Besong Arrey Agbor et al.
Ecstasy (MDMA) use can cause rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle tissue that may lead to severe acute kidney injury requiring temporary hemodialysis. A patient who used MDMA only twice experienced severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury on both occasions, indicating that some individuals are particularly susceptible to these adverse effects. Health professionals should screen adolescents and young adults for illicit drug use and counsel against it.
Cureus
June 1, 2024
David Mestre, Alexandra Paula, Francisco P Gil et al.
A patient without structural heart disease experienced multiple cardiac arrests after a single low dose of ibogaine (200 mg, 2.6 mg/kg). The case highlights that even minimal doses of ibogaine can cause lethal cardiotoxicity, specifically acquired long QT syndrome leading to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and torsade de pointes. This warns against the use of ibogaine, which is sometimes used in alternative clinics for opioid dependence or recreationally, despite its serious cardiac risks.
Cureus
November 1, 2020
B. Pradhan, Garrett Rossi
Opioid addiction remains a national crisis in the United States despite available treatments. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and subanesthetic ketamine are each effective for opioid use disorders (OUD) when used alone, but their benefits can fade after treatment stops. No prior study has combined both treatments for OUD. TIMBER therapy, which alters emotionally charged memories through extinction and reconsolidation, has been successful in chronic PTSD and with ketamine. TIMBER balances memory extinction and reconsolidation approaches, avoiding over-flooding or retraumatization, and shows superior efficacy in PTSD and potential benefit in substance use disorders.