KETAMINE AS AN OPTIONAL TREATMENT IN CHRONIC PAIN - A REVIEW
Mathias Spitaleri, Karol Kanon, Filip Kieloch, Julia Głowacka, Agnieszka Fitas, Wojciech Gąska, Karolina Dębek-kalinowska, Oskar Sienkiel, Wiktor Gąska, Dawid Sewruk
International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science September 25, 2025 DOI: 10.31435/ijitss.3(47).2025.3804 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Chronic pain Neuropathic pain Dissociative Anesthesia Pain relief Medline Intensive care medicine |
| Key findings | Ketamine shows potential for alleviating neuropathic pain, cancer-related pain, and pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome. |
Abstract
Chronic pain is a pervasive and debilitating condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Traditional methods of pain management, including the use of opioids, often fall short in providing adequate relief and come with significant risks, such as dependency and tolerance. As a result, there has been growing interest in exploring alternative treatments, with ketamine emerging as a promising option. Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has shown potential in alleviating various types of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, cancer-related pain, and pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Aim of study: This review aims to examine the current evidence on the efficacy of ketamine in chronic pain management, exploring its mechanisms of action, clinical applications, safety profile, and potential limitations. Methods and materials: PubMed and Scopus databases were used to search for topic treated articles.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine and Ketamine Metabolite Pharmacology: Insights into Therapeutic Mechanisms | 2018 | Review | |
| Mechanisms of Ketamine Action as an Antidepressant | 2018 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Ketamine Pharmacology: An Update (Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Aspects, Recent Findings) | 2013 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement |