Esketamine for Chronic Pain

1 paper and 7 clinical trials exploring esketamine as a treatment for chronic pain.

Compounddissociative

Esketamine

Esketamine (Spravato) is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, approved as an intranasal treatment for treatment-resistant depression and MDD with acute suicidal ideation. It is administered under clinical supervision with post-dose monitoring and has reached over $1.6 billion in annual sales.

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IndicationOver 1.5 billion worldwide.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is increasingly recognised as a multifaceted condition that may respond to psychedelic therapies, which are gaining attention in clinical settings for their potential efficacy in pain management. Recent research indicates that compounds such as psilocybin and MDMA are entering clinical trials aimed at exploring their therapeutic effects on chronic pain syndromes.

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Academic Research

1 paper

Open Accessindividual

Absence of long-term analgesic effect from a short-term S-ketamine infusion on fibromyalgia pain: A randomized, prospective, double blind, active placebo-controlled trial

In a randomised, double-blind, active placebo-controlled trial of 24 fibromyalgia patients, a 30‑minute S‑ketamine infusion produced transient pain reductions that closely tracked plasma levels but yielded no significant long-term analgesic benefit over an eight‑week follow‑up versus midazolam. Side effects were mild–moderate and declined rapidly, suggesting adequate blinding.

Published: January 13, 2012
Journal: European Journal of Pain
Authors: Aarts, L., Bauer, M., Dahan, A., Geleijnse, N., Mooren, R., Niesters, M., Noppers, I., Sarton, E., Swartjes, M.

Clinical Trials

7 trials

Not yet recruitingPhase IV

Ketamine for Postherpetic Neuralgia With Depression

This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase IV trial (n=50) will study the effects of a single low-dose intravenous esketamine (0.2 mg/kg; ~14 mg/70 kg over 40 minutes) combined with oral duloxetine (60 mg/day) on depression in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.

Started: June 15, 2025
Type: interventional
Blinding: double
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT06968624

Unknown statusPhase IV

Effects of Esketamine on Postpartum Depression

Randomised, phase IV trial (n=500) comparing four esketamine concentrations added to postoperative PCIA versus no esketamine for postpartum depression and analgesia after cesarean section.

Started: February 20, 2022
Type: interventional
Blinding: double
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT05229913

CompletedPhase NA

Effect of Intravenous S-ketamine on Opioid Consumption

Randomised, multicentre, parallel-group, quadruple-blind trial (n=345) comparing placebo, low-dose S-ketamine (0.5 mg/kg bolus + 2 µg/kg/min infusion) and high-dose S-ketamine (0.5 mg/kg bolus + 4 µg/kg/min infusion) on intraoperative sufentanil consumption in female breast cancer surgery patients.

Started: October 7, 2021
Type: interventional
Blinding: quadruple
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT05060068

Unknown statusPhase NA

Comparison of Ketamine and Esketamine in Patients Suffering From Fibromyalgia Syndrome

This single-centre, prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover trial (n=50) aims to compare the efficacy of ketamine and esketamine in ambulatory patients treated for fibromyalgia syndrome in a pain clinic.

Started: July 1, 2021
Type: interventional
Blinding: triple
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT04938713

CompletedPhase NA

Effect of Low-dose Esketamine on Postoperative Depression in Patients With Breast Cancer

Randomised, double-blind, parallel study (n=90) testing a single IV low dose esketamine 0.25 mg/kg versus saline to prevent postoperative depression and reduce pain in women undergoing radical mastectomy.

Started: February 10, 2021
Type: interventional
Blinding: double
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT04850937

Unknown statusPhase NA

Esketamine Adjuvant Therapy for Patients With Chronic Visceral Pain Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder

Therefore, this study aims to explore the difference in the efficacy and safety of esketamine as an adjuvant therapy and positive control drug-pregabalin in patients with chronic visceral pain comorbid depression.

Started: January 5, 2021
Type: interventional
Blinding: single
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT04847245

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