Experts Create Guidelines for the Use of Ketamine for Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain Treatment

Clinical Pain Advisor Physicians treating patients suffering from neuropathic chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia, chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and chronic migraines now have guidelines to follow when using intravenous ketamine infusions. Experts from the Ketamine Guidelines Committee which includes representatives from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists, have published guidelines for physicians in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

The guidelines covered several instructions for administering and monitoring treatment, and how to determine whether IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy has a positive response in chronic pain patients. Overall, the consensus was that there is enough evidence in support of the use of Ketamine Therapy for treating chronic pain, but the quality of evidence available does differ between conditions and dosage.

The Link Between Ketamine Therapy and Pain Management

IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy has slowly gained recognition in the medical and scientific community as a viable option for managing chronic pain symptoms. Ketamine has been used for decades as an anesthetic and is also commonly an abused ‘recreational drug’ because of its tranquilizing and sedative effects. However, when administered at a certain dosage, ketamine can help relieve much of the pain and discomfort chronic pain sufferers deal with on a daily basis.

Research on Ketamine for Chronic Pain

An article published in Anesthesia, Essays and Researches in 2014 reports on newly found anti-inflammatory properties of ketamine and the effects of IV low dose ketamine for acute pain management. Some reports even indicate that ketamine plays a role in preventing postoperative chronic pain. For patients suffering from non-cancer chronic pain, ketamine can be used off-label to treat many chronic painful conditions, according to the report.

Unlike prescription drugs that can cause adverse side effects, Ketamine Therapy has no known side effects. It is easy to administer and well tolerated by many. Still, the panel of experts report that it IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy does need to be monitored when administered in very high doses or at a higher frequency. When administered at low doses and carefully monitored, ketamine can provide numerous benefits for pain sufferers seeking ongoing pain relief.

Now, physicians have medical guidelines from the Ketamine Guidelines Committee to follow. These include recommendations on using IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy when patients are undergoing painful surgery and also for patients who are considered to be opioid-dependent or opioid-tolerant. Even patients with sleep apnea who would otherwise turn to opioids can be good candidates for Ketamine Therapy. The committee concluded that, “ketamine remains a powerful tool for practitioners who manage acute pain.”

More research is underway to study the effects of ketamine on chronic pain. Ketamine therapy might be a viable option for pain sufferers when administered in conjunction with opioids and adjuvants, according to the latest guidelines.