Ketamine therapy
Ketamine therapy
Ketamine therapy for chronic pain management
Over the years, Ketamine has been used by physicians as an anaesthetic. It is a drug with sedative (sleep-producing), analgesic (pain-relieving), and amnesic (short-term memory loss) effects.
Ketamine combats pain by acting against a specific chemical receptor known as N-methyl-D-aspartate, or NMDA, which is found in the nervous system and, in part, modulates pain. Hence, there is a role for Ketamine for chronic pain management in some patients.
When Should Doctors Use Ketamine?
IV Ketamine infusion can be administered to manage specific chronic pain conditions such as cancer pain. fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), neuropathic pain, phantom pain, postherpetic neuralgia and spinal injury. Although IV Ketamine infusion is a treatment option for people suffering from treatment resistant, it is not a one size fit all solution to these pain conditions. A comprehensive consultation and assessment would allow the doctor and the patient to decide if IV Ketamine may be an effective treatment therapy.
What to Expect from IV Ketamine Treatment
Ketamine infusion is a safe and effective treatment when it is dosed adequately and cautiously based on the body weight.
Infusion time usually takes about an hour, but patient may require rest for 3 to 5 hours following the infusion before they can be discharged.
IV Ketamine does not have any long-lasting associated side effects. Although some people may experience sensitivity to light and/or sound, disorientation and disassociation while the treatment is administered, these feelings subside quickly when the treatment is finished. Other possible side effects include dizziness, confusion, nausea, loss of appetite and fatigue.
During the infusion, vital signs such as your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation are monitored as a precaution.