so I have been reading a bit about ketamine infusions. I am not the best at finding info online...What I have found seems great. Patients get "significant reducation or elimination of pain for 6 months"... Is this true? If so, why doesn't everybody get ketamine infustions? what are the side effects? How long can you go on receiving these infusions? Does the effect wear off? (after 4 infusions it no longer works?). Is this a last resort? if so, why?
Sorry for all the questions, I just can't figure out why everybody doesn't get these instead of opiates etc.

Thanks!

I have lignocaine infusions every three months and they definately help

ketamine is an anesthetic, it affects the brain that controls pain, its a powerful relaxant. it can be addictive as well.

From what I've read, Ketamine infusion is pretty powerful stuff. Treatment of neuropathic pain would be an off label use, and I assume this would only be done at a pain management clinic.

This appears to be something that could be used for those who have run out of other options - probably not a first line treatment.

I had ketamine treatments when I first got neuropathy. One doctor told me it was RSD. I was so desperate to be out of pain I went for it. It was terrible. I had hallucinations after the treatments. I don't remember getting much relief from my pain either. There are people who say it works. It's not for me just thinking about it is making be anxious because of the hallucinations!

It only affects the part of the brain that percieves and process pain, people use it for recreationally, to get this high, or feel this numbness. If there is neuropathy. from nerve damage, its probably not helpful.

Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Ketamine works by altering the activity of neurons in the brain. This is accomplished through the drug’s inhibition of neuronal uptake of various neurotransmitters, including serotonin, glutamate, and dopamine. The net effect is a depression of neural communication between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex, resulting in an uncoupling of brain activity associated with memory, motor function, sensory experience, and emotion. Ketamine also stimulates activity in the limbic system, a region of the brain involved in controlling certain autonomic functions and in integrating various brain activities, including those associated with motivation and emotion.
Quote.

According to all the information I have been given by the NHS, PM Team (Consultant Anaesthetist), Pharmacists, Ketamine is not addictive but can be habit forming.

Dave.

Sorry, trying not to sound stupid. What's the diff between addictive and habit forming?

Addictive you have physical AND mental dependance on the drug, resulting in withdrawal symptoms. Habit forming, you may crave it mentally, but have no withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it.

Dave.

An addiction would be have a physiological dependance on it, biochemistry in the brain has been changed by the drug, so it needs more in order to feel the effects.
habit forming is you mentally use it without any permanent issue.