Ketamine for pain management

Ketamine inhibits pain transmission and modulates central sensitisation. Depending on the dose regimen used, ketamine can be used as an adjuvant (low dose) or for procedural sedation and analgesia (higher dose). Ketamine has the potential for misuse, neuropsychiatric effects and depressed consciousness.

At low doses, ketamine reduces central sensitisation and can be used to treat acute postoperative pain, neuropathic pain, acute pain in opioid-tolerant patients, or acute pain that has not responded adequately to opioids.

Ketamine is not licensed for use as an adjuvant in Australia. It should only be prescribed as an adjuvant by practitioners experienced with its use for this purpose.