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 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractChronic pain is a widespread condition that often resists standard treatments like opioids, which carry risks of dependency and tolerance. Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, shows promise for managing several chronic pain types, including neuropathic pain, cancer-related pain, and complex regional pain syndrome. This review examines current evidence on ketamine's efficacy, mechanisms, clinical applications, safety, and limitations, drawing on articles from PubMed and Scopus.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine |
| Keywords | Chronic pain Neuropathic pain Dissociative Anesthesia |
| Key finding | 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.