[liz down under]

I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who has been treated with ketamine for severe pain and what the experience was like for them. I would also be interested in the opinion of medical practitioners working in pain management as to the use of this drug.

[Gilgamesh!!! YAAAA]

Ketamine is only used in the most severe cases of pain, as it is very addictive, and there are other less addictive medicines available for the treatement of pain, such as codeine and morphine, the two most used and commonly known.

[Pangolin]

Ketamine is a dissociative drug with analgesic properties. I've never heard of it being used outside of the OR or ICU, or other closely monitored environment.It is associated with nightmares, unless benzodiazepines are given with it.People under the influence of ketamine are very spaced out. You can lift their hand, and they'll just keep it there. We like it in the OR for some procedures because we can have a cooperative patient who continues to breathe, and is comfortable. But, they are OUT THERE.

[Kelsey W]

Check out the House, M.d. episode No Reason. It's about House being induced into a coma with ketamine to treat his leg chronic leg pain. It works, but he has hallucinations.Ok, so it's a TV show and what not, but it's interesting if you want to check it out!