A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine examined whether low-dose ketamine is as effective as opioids for acute pain control in the emergency department.
Researchers conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing intravenous opioids to low-dose ketamine for pain relief in the ED. They identified three studies for inclusion in a meta‐analysis.
The study shows ketamine was not inferior to morphine with regard to pain scale reduction. However, while no severe adverse events were reported in any study, higher rates of non-severe adverse events were observed with ketamine.
"Ketamine is noninferior to morphine for the control of acute pain," study authors concluded.
More artilces on opioids:
This state leads the US in driving down opioid prescriptions, says BCBS report
Construction workers hit hard by opioid epidemic — Here's what 1 trade group is doing about it
3 ways art therapy helps pain management