Retrospective Chart Review Evaluating Efficacy and Tolerability of Ketamine Continuous Infusion for Cancer-Related Pain

Rabia S. Atayee, Mashal Hasan, Jahfreen Alam, Kyle P. Edmonds, Jamie Kneebusch, Toluwalase A. Ajayi, Skaggs School of Pharmacy , Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC San Diego Health Sciences, La Jolla, Division of Geriatrics, Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, UC San Diego Health Sciences, La Jolla, Palliative Care Program, UC San Diego Health Sciences, La Jolla, Department of Pharmacy, UC San Diego Health Sciences, La Jolla, Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, UC San Diego Health Sciences, La Jolla, Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Rady Children, s Hospital , Medical Center, San Diego

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®

Published online on May 14, 2026

Abstract

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Ahead of Print.
ContextKetamine is used to treat refractory cancer pain, but evidence for analgesic and opioid-sparing benefits remains mixed.ObjectiveThis study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of ketamine continuous infusion (CI) for cancer pain.MethodsThis ...