Ketamine pharmacology revisited

Abstract

In the thesis I present a series of studies that focus on the use and optimization of use of low-dose ketamine in clinical practice by:

(1) reviewing the proof for its use in alleviation and prevention of acute and chronic (cancer and non-cancer) pain;

(2) testing a possible novel administration route of ketamine, i.e. inhalation;

(3) applying ketamine in a novel indication: the use of the S-enantiomer as respiratory stimulant during opioid-induced respiratory depression; (4) studying the effect of a nitric oxide donor on ketamine (the racemic and S-ketamine variants) typical side effects that hamper it’s use in chronic pain therapy