Morphine or Ketamine for Pain
(MoKA Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
Pain is common in children presenting to the emergency department but is frequently undertreated, leading to both short- and long-term consequences. Morphine is the standard treatment for children with moderate to severe acute pain, but its use is associated with serious side effects and caregiver and clinician concerns related to opioid administration. The investigators aim to determine if sub-dissociative ketamine is non-inferior to morphine for treating acute pain and a preferable alternative for treating acute pain in children because of its more favorable side effect profile and potential long-term benefits related to pain-related function, analgesic use/misuse, and mental and behavioral health outcomes.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have a chronic pain condition requiring opioids, you may not be eligible to participate.
Is the combination of morphine and ketamine safe for pain management?
How does the drug combination of ketamine and morphine differ from other pain treatments?
The combination of ketamine and morphine for pain relief is unique because ketamine can enhance the pain-relieving effects of morphine while potentially reducing its side effects like nausea and vomiting. Ketamine works differently by blocking specific receptors in the brain, which may provide more effective pain relief compared to using higher doses of morphine alone.16789
What data supports the effectiveness of the drugs ketamine and morphine for pain relief?
Research shows that ketamine can be an effective alternative or addition to morphine for pain relief in some cases, such as in emergency settings for acute pain. However, when combined with morphine for post-surgery pain, ketamine did not show additional benefits and even caused some side effects like vivid dreaming.48101112
Who Is on the Research Team?
Daniel S Tsze, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator
Columbia University
Amy L Drendel, DO, MS
Principal Investigator
Medical College of Wisconsin
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for children who come to the emergency department with moderate to severe pain due to conditions like non-specific abdominal pain, other types of abdominal pain, general pain issues, or broken bones. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive either IV sub-dissociative ketamine or IV morphine for acute pain management
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including assessments of pain-related function and mental health outcomes
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Ketamine
- Morphine
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Columbia University
Lead Sponsor
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Collaborator
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Collaborator