Adverse drug effects related to multiday ketamine infusions: multicenter study

What is it about?

Although psychomimetic adverse drug effects occur with subanesthetic ketamine infusions, it is not known if patients become tolerant with repeat infusions. Hepatotoxicity has also been associated with subanesthetic ketamine but mostly in abusers and with repeat infusions in close proximity. In this retrospective analysis of a combined group of patients with refractory headache and complex regional pain syndrome who received one or more 5-day continuous ketamine infusions, we found that the psychomimetic effects occurred equally often during repeat admissions. We also found that some patients developed elevated liver function tests during the infusion, suggesting that clinicians should consider checking follow-up labs in patients receiving continuous infusions lasting 5 days.

Featured Image