Use of ketamine in the treatment of cancer pain

Aleksandra Kotlińska-Lemieszek; Jacek Łuczak; Ewa Bączyk

Vol 2, No 1 (2003): Polish Palliative Medicine

Leki w medycynie paliatywnej

Published online: 2002-10-30

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Use of ketamine in the treatment of cancer pain

Aleksandra Kotlińska-Lemieszek, Jacek Łuczak, Ewa Bączyk

Advances in Palliative Medicine 2003;2(1):61-70.

Vol 2, No 1 (2003): Polish Palliative Medicine

Leki w medycynie paliatywnej

Published online: 2002-10-30

Abstract

The authors present the characteristics and the clinical use of ketamine - the NMDA receptor antagonist - the drug of high efficacy in pain "resistant" to morphine - on the basis of the literature and the own experience. The article contains the recommendation concerning the use of ketamine in subanaesthetic doses in patients with cancer pain that does not respond to treatment according to the WHO principles.