Ketamine infusion Perth
Ketamine and its use in pain management
- Author: Dr Reza Feizerfan
- First published:
Ketamine infusion therapy Perth
What is ketamine and how can Pain Specialists WA help?
Ketamine is often known to the public as a horse tranquiliser or an illegal drug, but in medicine, it has been used safely for decades as an anaesthetic. First introduced in the 1960s, it has a long track record of safe use in operating theatres. In more recent years, low-dose ketamine infusions have emerged as a promising option for managing certain chronic pain conditions when other treatments have not been effective.
“In low, controlled doses, ketamine can help reset pain pathways in the nervous system. Patients may experience a period of relief from persistent pain symptoms under controlled ketamine treatment, but individual responses vary.”
Ketamine infusions are typically used for people with conditions such as:
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Chronic nerve pain
- Persistent headaches and migraines
It may also be helpful for:
- Pain following a stroke or spinal cord injury
- Supporting patients to reduce or stop long-term opioid use
These are conditions that can be complex and may not always respond adequately to first-line treatment options. While it’s not a cure, ketamine infusion therapy can offer relief that makes daily life more manageable and allows you to engage in rehabilitation with less discomfort.
Exploring Ketamine Infusion Perth: What Patients Should Know
Ketamine interacts with the NMDA receptors in the nervous system, which may help regulate abnormal pain signalling in some patients. Rather than simply dulling the pain, it interacts with receptors in your nervous system to alter the way pain signals are processed. For some, this can “reset” the system and calm overactive pain responses.
At Pain Specialists WA in Perth, we offer ketamine infusions under close medical supervision over a 5-day period. You’ll stay in hospital during this time where we can monitor your response and make sure you are safe and comfortable throughout.
Here’s what to expect:
- You’ll be admitted to hospital and receive a small, controlled dose of ketamine through a small cannula inserted under your skin
- The infusion is slow and continuous, and follows a protocol.
- We monitor your vital signs and adjust the dosage if needed.
- You’re seen daily by your doctor.
- After five days, you’ll be discharged with a follow-up plan.
This treatment is considered only after a comprehensive assessment and discussion with the patient about possible options and outcomes. While ketamine infusion is generally safe, it may not be suitable for everyone.
Why is it done in hospital?
Ketamine is a potent drug; while it can be extremely helpful for the right person, it requires the right setting. That’s why we do all infusions in hospital.
“We do these infusions at in hospital. They provide the equipment and nursing support needed to keep you safe during the process.”
The key difference lies in how the medication is given and how long it takes:
- Injection means a single, quick delivery of medication. It’s like a one-off shot, commonly given into a muscle, vein, or under the skin.
- Infusion means the medication is slowly delivered into your bloodstream over a longer period of time, often several hours, and sometimes over multiple days (like for ketamine infusions). It’s done using an intravenous (IV) drip or with a cannulae inserted under your skin, which allows the dose to be controlled and adjusted as needed. The aim is to achieve a steady, low-level presence of the drug in your body. That’s why we use an infusion; it allows your pain specialist to carefully manage the dosage and monitor how your body responds throughout the treatment.
Is ketamine right for you?
When we consider ketamine infusions
Ketamine is not for everyone. We generally recommend it in the following situations:
- You’ve tried multiple pain medications without success.
- You’ve already explored physiotherapy, injections, and lifestyle changes.
- You’re dealing with widespread, complex or centralised pain that hasn’t responded to conventional approaches.
- You’re experiencing significant impairment in daily life.
We will only suggest ketamine after a full consultation, where we explore your pain history, medications, lifestyle, and overall health. If we believe it’s an option, we will talk through the process in detail.
When ketamine infusion may not be suitable
There are some conditions where we may not be able to offer you ketamine treatment. These include liver disease, a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or severe, uncontrolled depression. If any of these apply to you, we will discuss other options instead.
What to expect during the infusion
If ketamine infusion is suitable for you, we will give you a hospital admission date. On the day, the hospital nursing team will start the infusion following the standard protocol. Your doctor will visit you during the treatment and may adjust the infusion if needed.
Possible side effects of ketamine infusion
During the infusion, you may feel:
- Nausea (sometimes severe enough to cause vomiting)
- Light-headed or spaced out
- Vivid dreams or hallucinations
- Headache
- Increased blood pressure
These symptoms are usually manageable and can be treated during your stay.
On very rare occasions, ketamine may affect your liver function. Because this is rare but can be serious, we do blood tests on the day of admission and during the treatment. This helps us make sure everything is going well while you are receiving the infusion.
Ketamine infusion specialist Perth
Ready to explore your options?
If other approaches have not been effective, ketamine infusion therapy may be considered as one of several available treatment options under specialist supervision.
At Pain Specialists WA in Perth, we approach every case with care. We’ll talk you through your options and work together to find the best path forward.