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Risk Factors for the Development of Neuropsychiatric Adverse Effects in Ketamine-Treated Pain
Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy
|April 27, 2022
Summary
Predicting neuropsychiatric adverse effects from ketamine pain management remains challenging. Further research is needed to explore benzodiazepine use for mitigating these ketamine side effects.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Ketamine is increasingly used for acute and chronic pain management.
- Neuropsychiatric adverse effects (NPS-AEs) like hallucinations and dysphoria are known ketamine side effects.
- Identifying risk factors for NPS-AEs in ketamine therapy is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate risk factors associated with neuropsychiatric adverse effects in patients receiving ketamine for pain.
- To compare characteristics of patients who experienced NPS-AEs with those who did not.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, single-center cohort study.
- Inclusion of hospitalized patients receiving low-dose intravenous (IV) ketamine or oral ketamine for pain.
- Comparison of patients with and without NPS-AEs.
Main Results:
- 171 patients were included; 50 (29.2%) experienced NPS-AEs, and 26 (15.2%) required treatment discontinuation.
- No significant differences were found between patients who tolerated ketamine and those who did not.
- Patients with NPS-AEs were numerically less likely to receive benzodiazepines (28% vs 39.7%).
Conclusions:
- Predicting NPS-AEs in ketamine-treated pain patients is currently difficult.
- Further research is warranted to assess the safety and efficacy of benzodiazepines in mitigating ketamine-induced NPS-AEs.
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