Ketamine for Preventing Depression in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Pancreatic or Head and Neck Cancers
The primary purpose of this study is to see if it is safe to give patients with pancreatic or head and neck cancer a low dose of the FDA approved anesthetic drug ketamine at the same time they receive radiation and/or chemotherapy for their cancer treatment to prevent depression and its effects.
Details
Prospective, single-centre, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group feasibility study of weekly oral ketamine 0.5 mg/kg versus placebo in non-depressed adults with stage II–IV head and neck or stage III–IV pancreatic cancer undergoing curative-intent therapy.
Treatment administered weekly for up to 12 weeks; outcomes include incidence of new-onset depression, anxiety, pain, quality of life, and feasibility/acceptability measures; assessments occur biweekly during treatment and monthly for five months of follow-up.