As the opioid epidemic continues to wreak havoc across the country, researchers are working faster and harder than ever to find alternative – but equally effective – ways to treat pain. Not surprisingly, ketamine has found itself in the mix, and the results look promising.
Ketamine for pain management – specifically for chronic pain conditions – is nothing new. For over 20 years, ketamine infusions have offered pain relief to those suffering from such conditions as CRPS and fibromyalgia. Ketamine for acute pain, however, has received less attention.
The results of a recent controlled study lead us to believe that, in conjunction with a reduced amount of opioids, ketamine relieves acute pain at least as well as a full dose of opioids, if not better. The findings, published on Medscape in an article titled ‘Ketamine: Another Option for Managing Acute Pain,’ could eventually allow emergency physicians to reduce the amount of opioids they prescribe, thus preventing opioid dependence and addiction.
Skeptics may balk at the idea of using ketamine, a drug that can be abused recreationally, as an alternative to opioids, but ketamine is not physically addictive the way opioids are. Furthermore, ketamine for pain is administered in much lower doses than when abused recreationally, unlike opioids which are abused at the dose they are prescribed in.
At the end of the day, finding an alternative to opioids is a necessary step in preventing abuse, addiction and the horror that comes along with it. Whether ketamine or another drug, we are interested to watch the progression of this research.
CONTACT VITALITAS
Vitalitas Denver has been providing ketamine infusions to patients suffering from chronic pain disorders since our clinic opened. If your pain from CRPS, fibromyalgia, or another chronic pain condition is negatively impacting the quality of your life, please contact us via the brief form below. We can help answer questions and determine is ketamine for chronic pain is the right course of treatment for you.
