October 6, 2025- Low-dose ketamine infusions are both safe and significantly effective for patients with chronic pain, according to one of the largest real-world studies of its kind published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. Led by researchers at Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological and Primary Care Institutes, the study analyzed data from over 1,000 patients, providing crucial evidence for this emerging treatment approach.
The retrospective study followed 1,034 patients through a standardized ketamine infusion protocol – 0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes for five consecutive days – and demonstrated an 86.1% adherence rate, underscoring the feasibility of outpatient administration. The outpatient ketamine protocol demonstrated strong feasibility, with over 90% of patients completing all five treatment days.