Ketamine Infusion

Ketamine, given as a slow intravenous infusion in a monitored clinical setting, is a treatment option for severe, refractory chronic pain conditions — including complex regional pain syndrome and other centralised or neuropathic pain states — that have not responded adequately to standard medications and interventional treatments. At the low doses used for pain management, ketamine works differently from standard pain medications, targeting specific receptors involved in the amplification and persistence of chronic pain.

The infusion is delivered gradually over a period of hours in a setting with appropriate monitoring of your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels, given ketamine's effects on alertness and perception at these doses. Dr Danesh and the treating team carefully titrate the dose to balance meaningful pain relief against side effects such as dissociation (a floaty or dreamlike feeling), which are managed proactively throughout the infusion.

For selected patients, a course of ketamine infusions can produce a period of significant pain reduction that extends well beyond the infusion itself, offering a valuable opportunity to progress with rehabilitation and other therapies. Dr Danesh will discuss whether this treatment is appropriate for your specific condition and what monitoring and follow-up will be involved.