Effects of low-dose intranasal (S)-ketamine in patients with neuropathic pain

Effects of low-dose intranasal (S)-ketamine in patients with neuropathic pain

Volker HugeaCorresponding Author Informationemail address, Meike Laucharta, Walter Magerlb, Gustav Schellinga, Antje Beyera, Detlef Thiemec, Shahnaz C. Azada

Received 19 May 2009; received in revised form 28 July 2009; accepted 6 August 2009. published online 04 September 2009.

Abstract
Background

NMDA receptors are involved in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of intranasal (S)-ketamine, one of the most potent clinically available NMDA receptor antagonists.
Methods

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Conclusions

Intranasal administration of low dose (S)-ketamine rapidly induces adequate plasma concentrations of (S)-ketamine and subsequently of its metabolite (S)-norketamine. The time course of analgesia correlated with plasma concentrations.


a Department of Anaesthesiology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Campus Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany

b Center of Biomedicine and Medical Technology (CBTM), Department of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Ludolf-Krehl-Strasse 13-17, 68167 Mannheim, Germany

c Institute of Doping Analysis, Dresdnerstrasse 12, 01731 Kreischa, Germany

Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +49 89 7095 4464; fax: +49 89 7095 4469.

PII: S1090-3801(09)00173-6

doi:10.1016/j.ejpain.2009.08.002

© 2009 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.