Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate as an Adjunct to Intravenous Ketamine for Acute Pain: A Case Series.
Nathan Smith, Sanny Juresic, Kia Lor, Carrie Schmidt, Annie Bell Howrigon, Oludare Olatoye
Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy June 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/15360288.2024.2441794 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3 |
| Population | Postoperative patients with complex comorbidities |
| Interventions | Intravenous magnesium sulfate Ketamine |
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Magnesium sulfate Pain management Anesthesiology Drug combinations Acute pain treatment Analgesics |
| Key findings | Adding intravenous magnesium sulfate to ketamine improved postoperative analgesia in three patients with complex comorbidities. |
Abstract
Intravenous (IV) magnesium sulfate, a versatile electrolyte, plays a pivotal role across various medical domains. From cardiac care to obstetrics, gastrointestinal to pulmonary therapies, the impact is far-reaching among acute care services. Notably, in the postoperative phase of care, it shares intriguing similarities with ketamine as an NMDA receptor antagonist. This case series describes the difficulties experienced with postoperative analgesia in three patient cases with complex comorbidities and discusses the beneficial impact observed when magnesium was administered concomitantly with ketamine. Further research is necessary to outline the specific role, ideal population, and recommended bolus and infusion rate for optimal analgesic efficacy.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on ketamine, most cited first.