New research has indicated that intranasal ketamine is an effective treatment for children who have been admitted to the hospital suffering from a migraine. These findings have been reported in the journal Pediatric Neurology.
The study took place at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. It involved a retrospective review of the medical records of child patients who came under the care of the staff of the center when suffering from migraines.
34 children were given intranasal ketamine at dose levels of between 0.1mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg for a maximum of five doses. Children who were given therapy were also studied. Both were asked to evaluate their pain reduction on a scale of 0 to -3, or reductions greater than 50 percent on a ten-point scale.
Most Subjects Involved in the Study Experienced a Reduction in the Pain Caused by Their Migraine
Of the children evaluated, 25 out of the group of 34 said that they experienced a reduction in pain, which equates to 73.5 percent. The average level of pain reduction on a ten point scale was set at -7.2.
The children who responded to the intranasal ketamine treatment reported an 83.7 percent reduction in pain on average, compared to those who did not respond (16.6 percent – a differential of 66.1 percent). Significant differences in the reduction of pain levels of responders and non-responders were noticed even after the first ketamine dose.
It is not yet known why intranasal ketamine might be a successful treatment for migraine sufferers, for both adults and children. In a separate study, eighteen adult patients were given an intranasal ketamine spray to use when they experienced a migraine. In almost all cases patients reported a reduction in the pain caused by their migraines, although the duration of their attacks was not reduced.
Ketamine May be an Effective Treatment for Other Types of Neurological Pain
There have also been reports that ketamine has been found to be a successful treatment for chronic migraines and cluster headaches, although detailed studies have yet to be undertaken.
If you would like to learn about Ketamine Infusion Therapy and what it may be able to do for you, then please contact us here at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan. Ketamine treatment has been proven to be useful with many disorders, including depression, pain relief and alcohol dependency issues. To learn more, call (855) 538-2646, or use the online contact form available on our website.