Comparing the Effects of Ketamine and Lidocaine
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comparing the Effects of Ketamine and Lidocaine on Cognition, Pain and Mood
IRAS ID
214864
Contact name
Valerie Curran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
No:Z6364106/2017/08/72 Health Research, Data Protection Number
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 6 months, 12 days
Research summary
A number of neurochemical systems are thought to underlie the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. For example, the neurotransmitter receptor N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA-R) is involved in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Ketamine is a drug that blocks NMDA-R, and it has been shown to produce strong analgesia in patients experiencing neuropathic pain states when given in sub-anaesthetic doses. This effect is presumed to work via the inhibition of NMDA-R’s.
Furthermore, previous studies in people with depression, who have not responded to previous treatment (e.g. anti-depressants, psychotherapy), have found that a one off treatment with a low dose of ketamine, given intravenously, can lead to an improvement in mood lasting up to seven days.
In this study we aim to evaluate the short-term effects of low sub-anaesthetic IV ketamine on cognition, pain and mood in neuropathic pain patients. Patients being treated with the anaesthetic drug lidocaine, a well-tolerated treatment for neuropathic pain, will be used as a comparison group. The study also aims to investigate if there is a difference in cognitive functioning between patients receiving ketamine, and those receiving lidocaine for chronic pain. Further to this, we will also investigate the effect of ketamine treatment on depressive symptomatology, alongside measuring the reinforcing effects of ketamine. Participants will all be currently receiving routine treatment infusions of ketamine or lidocaine for chronic pain at the University College London Hospital Pain Management Centre.REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0567
Date of REC Opinion
6 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion