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.
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.
Weekly oral ketamine 0.5 mg/kg mixed with syrup for 12 weeks
Mixed with syrup; up to 12 weekly doses
Weekly oral placebo syrup for 12 weeks
Placebo syrup given weekly