Ketamine subcutaneous continuous infusion for depressive symptoms at home: A case report beyond pain use.
Palliat Support Care
; : 1-5, 2024 May 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38706299
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Ketamine has been widely used in refractory pain as an opioid adjuvant. Evidence suggests that ketamine can also have an essential role in easing depressive symptoms. Its rapid onset of action makes it a valuable choice in palliative care.METHODS:
We present a case of a 70-year-old man with stage IV renal carcinoma and bone metastasis. The main symptoms included neuropathic pain, depression, and a persistent and severe desire for death.RESULTS:
We started continuous subcutaneous infusion with morphine 30 mg and ketamine 100 mg/day. The dose of ketamine was incremented to the maximum of 250 mg/day. During the 28-day treatment, we observed an overall improvement in neuropathic pain, depressive symptoms, and other end-of-life psychological aspects of distress. Only minor psychological side effects were identified, which were controlled by using midazolam in the continuous subcutaneous infusion. SIGNIFICANCE OFRESULTS:
Some studies have already demonstrated the benefits of ketamine use in alleviating depression, using parental infusion or oral formulas, which are administered in hospice care. Our report enhances the benefit of the subcutaneous route for palliative patients cared for at home.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Palliat Support Care
/
Palliat. support care
/
Palliative & supportive care
Journal subject:
TERAPEUTICA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Portugal
Country of publication:
Reino Unido