500 Participants Needed

Ketamine for Chronic Pain

EL
JT
Overseen ByJames Taggart, MD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: RIVER Foundation
Must be taking: Ketamine
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests ketamine's effectiveness for chronic conditions, exploring its use for anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and chronic pain. The goal is to identify the best method to prescribe ketamine for symptom relief. Suitable participants have a long-lasting condition that impacts daily life. As a Phase 2 trial, this research measures ketamine's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, allowing participants to contribute to significant findings.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify if you need to stop your current medications. It's best to ask the trial organizers for more details.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that ketamine is generally well-tolerated for the conditions studied in this trial. For anxiety disorders, studies suggest that sublingual ketamine is safe and effective, although the FDA has raised concerns about certain pharmacy-made forms. For depression, ketamine works quickly, with mostly mild side effects such as dizziness and nausea.

For long-term conditions like chronic pain, research indicates that low-dose ketamine infusions are safe. Specifically, a study by the Cleveland Clinic found these infusions effective for managing chronic pain. However, some reports warn about possible risks with long-term use, particularly affecting the brain. Overall, while ketamine shows promise, awareness of potential side effects and discussion with a healthcare provider are important.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Ketamine is unique because it offers a rapid-acting alternative for conditions like anxiety and depression, which typically rely on treatments like SSRIs or therapy that can take weeks to show results. Unlike these standard treatments, ketamine works by targeting the NMDA receptors in the brain, which may quickly alleviate symptoms. Researchers are excited because this mechanism can potentially provide relief for chronic pain and other conditions where traditional treatments may not be effective. Additionally, ketamine's ability to act quickly can be transformative for patients in urgent need of symptom relief.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for anxiety, depressive, and chronic conditions?

This trial will explore ketamine's use in various conditions, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, chronic conditions, and chronic pain. Research has shown that ketamine can help with anxiety disorders. For example, a review of studies found that ketamine significantly reduced anxiety, especially in people with difficult-to-treat symptoms. Several studies also indicate that ketamine provides quick and strong relief for depression. In one study, more than half of the participants experienced relief from severe depression after just three treatments. For chronic pain, ketamine helped 20% to 46% of patients improve significantly. However, results for chronic pain are mixed, with some studies not showing clear benefits. Overall, ketamine seems promising for these conditions, but its effectiveness can vary.26789

Who Is on the Research Team?

EL

Edward Lesofski, MS

Principal Investigator

RIVER Foundation

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

You possess a verifiable chronic affliction.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive ketamine treatment at home with various administration methods and adjunct therapies

12 months
Surveys completed every time ketamine is renewed

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Ketamine

How Is the Trial Designed?

4

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Depressive DisordersExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Chronic PainExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group III: Chronic CondtionsExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group IV: Anxiety DisordersExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

RIVER Foundation

Lead Sponsor

Trials
2
Recruited
50,500+

Citations

Ketamine for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized ...

Ketamine resulted in a significantly greater reduction in anxiety when compared to placebo as assessed by blinded ratings on the LSAS but not on self-reported ...

The effects of ketamine on symptoms of depression and ...

Patients exhibited significant and concordant reduction in both anxiety and depression symptoms after induction (Cohen's d = -1.17 and d = -1.56 ...

Real-world depression, anxiety and safety outcomes of ...

On average, psychiatric outpatients experienced a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms from before to after a course of IM ketamine ...

The effect of ketamine on cognition, anxiety, and social ...

Furthermore, by pooling results of 6 RCTs, ketamine may be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms (SMD: −0.42 [95% CI: −0.84; 0.003]), particularly when ...

Ketamine treatment for refractory anxiety: A systematic review

This systematic review assesses the evidence that ketamine significantly reduces refractory anxiety and discusses to what extent this may be mediated by NMDA ...

Real-world depression, anxiety and safety outcomes of ...

Patients receiving IM ketamine treatment had a mean of 2.8 (SD 1.4) psychiatric diagnoses. 420 (93%) patients had a diagnosis of major ...

Safety, effectiveness and tolerability of sublingual ketamine ...

This study demonstrates that SL ketamine is a novel, safe, and effective treatment for TRD and treatment-resistant anxiety.

FDA warns about compounded ketamine for psychiatric ...

FDA has identified potential safety concerns associated with the use of compounded ketamine products from compounders and telemedicine platforms.

Is ketamine addictive, and is it safe for depression?

Yes. Ketamine can be addictive. In addition to being dangerous for people with high blood pressure or other heart problems, ketamine can become ...