Safety and efficacy of prolonged outpatient ketamine infusions for neuropathic p

[Guest guest]

Am J Ther. 2006 Jul-Aug;13(4):300-5.

Safety and efficacy of prolonged outpatient ketamine infusions for

neuropathic pain.

Webster LR, MJ.

Lifetree Pain Clinic, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ketamine has demonstrated usefulness as an analgesic to treat

nonresponsive neuropathic pain; however, it is not widely

administered to outpatients due to fear of such side effects as

hallucinations and other cognitive disturbances. This retrospective

chart review is the first research to study the safety and efficacy

of prolonged low-dose, continuous intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous

ketamine infusions in noncancer outpatients. Thirteen outpatients

with neuropathic pain were administered low-dose IV or subcutaneous

ketamine infusions for up to 8 weeks under close supervision by home

health care personnel. Using the 10-point verbal analog score (VAS),

11 of 13 patients (85%) reported a decrease in pain from the start of

infusion treatment to the end. Side effects were minimal and not

severe enough to deter treatment. Prolonged analgesic doses of

ketamine infusions were safe for the small sample studied. The

results demonstrate that ketamine may provide a reasonable

alternative treatment for nonresponsive neuropathic pain in

ambulatory outpatients.