The role of ketamine and its enantiomer in managing depression and pain in cancer patients: A narrative review.
Michael S Bodnar, Sierra Barber, Heather S L Jim, Jeffery Huang
Journal of Anesthesia and Translational Medicine December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jatmed.2024.10.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Oncologic patients |
| Interventions | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Dose | sub-anesthetic doses |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Anesthesia Pain management Ketamine therapy Cancer treatment Mental health Depression treatment |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Sub-anesthetic intravenous ketamine and esketamine can alleviate postoperative depressive symptoms in cancer patients and are effective for acute postoperative pain, but evidence for chronic cancer pain is inconsistent. |
Abstract
Depression and pain are common comorbidities in cancer patients, and ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has shown potential in managing both. This review summarizes current literature on ketamine and its enantiomer, esketamine, in managing depression and pain in the oncologic population. Studies indicate that sub-anesthetic doses of intravenous ketamine and esketamine can alleviate postoperative depressive symptoms in cancer patients with a tolerable safety profile. Research into non-intravenous routes for depression management in the oncologic population remains limited. Ketamine has also proven effective in managing acute postoperative pain, particularly through intravenous administration. While alternative administration routes, such as local infiltration and intramuscular methods, show mixed results, they may provide viable options for patients averse to intravenous (IV). However, the effectiveness of ketamine for chronic cancer pain remains inconsistent. Overall, ketamine offers a promising approach for managing depression and pain in oncologic patients.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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: a paradigm shift for depression research and treatment | 2019 | Review | |
| Rapid‐acting antidepressant ketamine, its metabolites and other candidates: A historical overview and future perspective | 2019 | Review | |
| Ketamine: A tale of two enantiomers | 2020 | Review | |
| Molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant actions of arketamine: beyond the NMDA receptor | 2021 | Review |