Hardy, J., Quinn, S., Fazekas, B., Plummer, J., Eckermann, S., Agar, M., … Currow, D.C. (2012). Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy and toxicity of subcutaneous ketamine in the management of cancer pain. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 30, 3611–3617.
To determine whether ketamine, delivered subcutaneously with dose titration over five days, has greater clinical benefit than placebo when used in conjunction with opioids and standard adjuvant therapy in the management of cancer pain
This was a multisite, inpatient study conducted in Australia.
This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-control study.
Ketamine was only associated with improvement in worse pain compared to placebo, and it was associated with more adverse events and psychotoxicity.
Ketamine as an adjunct to opioids to manage chronic refractory cancer pain only appeared to affect worst pain rating and may cause adverse effects and increase psychotoxicity. Incidence of adverse events with ketamine infusion adjunctively with opioids in the management of refractory pain should be reevaluated when considering the patient population of advanced cancer.