Low-dose ketamine safely reduces acute pain in the ED with a more rapid and shorter effect than morphine.
Annals of internal medicine April 1, 2024 DOI: 10.7326/J24-0017 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials compared low-dose ketamine with morphine for acute pain in the emergency department. The analysis suggests that low-dose ketamine provides comparable pain relief to morphine, with a similar onset of action. However, ketamine was associated with a higher incidence of minor, transient side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and psychomimetic effects, while morphine carried a greater risk of respiratory depression and hypotension. The findings indicate that low-dose ketamine is a viable alternative to morphine for managing acute pain in the emergency setting, particularly when avoiding opioid-related adverse effects is a priority.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with acute pain in the emergency department |
| Interventions | Low-dose ketamine Morphine |
| Keywords | Pain management Emergency medicine Ketamine therapy Analgesics Clinical trials |
| Key finding | Low-dose ketamine provides comparable pain relief to morphine for acute pain in the emergency department but with a different side effect profile. |
Abstract
Guo J, Zhao F, Bian J, et al. Low-dose ketamine versus morphine in the treatment of acute pain in the emergency department: a meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials. Am J Emerg Med. 2024;76:140-149. 38071883.