Low-dose intravenous (IV) infusions of ketamine may be a safe and powerful way to help people who suffer from chronic pain, according to a new study.
Researchers found that nearly half of the patients who received ketamine as part of their overall pain care had big improvements in how they function physically, how well they sleep, and how well they manage pain. The findings were published in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.
“This study provides evidence for ketamine’s role in chronic pain management,” said lead researcher Hallie Tankha, a clinical pain psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Primary Care Institute. “This matches my experience working with patients—many describe ketamine infusions as ‘life-changing.’”
Ketamine is already used in hospitals as an anesthetic for surgery and to treat depression. It is not an opioid. Instead, it works differently by blocking a brain chemical called NMDA. Ketamine was first developed in the 1960s and was even used as a battlefield anesthetic during the Vietnam War.
In this study, researchers followed more than 1,000 people who received ketamine infusions at a dose of 0.5 milligrams for each kilogram of body weight. The treatment was given over 40 minutes per session for five days in a row.
More than 90% of the patients completed all five treatment days. Afterward, researchers found that between 20% and 46% of patients showed real improvements in pain levels, physical ability, and sleep. These benefits lasted at least six months for many people. Almost half of the patients also reported less anxiety related to their pain.
Even more promising, about 80% of patients chose to come back later for more ketamine treatments.
The treatment was also found to be safe. There were very few side effects, and no serious health problems. A small number of people reported hallucinations, but these cases were rare.
Senior researcher Dr. Pavan Tankha, medical director of comprehensive pain recovery at Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute, emphasized the importance of the results. “Millions of Americans are suffering from chronic pain,” he said.
“This research fills critical gaps in pain management and shows a big step forward in helping patients who have tried everything else.”
He added, “These findings could improve quality of life for many people and may help expand access to ketamine treatment across the country.”
If you care about pain, please read studies about how to manage your back pain, and Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing common native American plant may help reduce diarrhea and pain.
The study is published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.
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