Ketamine gel

[watata]

My pain mgmt doc has now prescribed ketamine gel to help with my pelvic and IC pain. Anyone ever try this? Also having pudendal neuropathy he says this will help. Getting weekly injections, pudendal blocks, and elmiron instills as well. This last flare has lasted 3 plus weeks and has only winded up more. Ive been out of work and unable to function normally. I have air in my urine again and am retaining urine. Today it was 200cc. I see my uro/gyn next week. A week is a long time with everything else going on it feels like eternity!

Thanks for listening.

[ICNDonna]

Anyone?

[flowerangela]

interesting never heard of ketamine gel ... is it similar to lidocaine?hope it works out for you keep us posted

[Mothergoose]

I have not heard of this gel, but i know for me if ssomething makes my retention worse even by a bit, life is hard, and a waiting a week i would have a full blown UTI by then.

Good luck I hope this works for you MG

[Mothergoose]

I read this about the gel, it wasn't too long of an article i hope i am allowed to do this, if not the link is http://www.ketamine.com/topical-gel.html

Topical ketamine gel: possible role in treating neuropathic pain
by
Gammaitoni A, Gallagher RM, Welz-Bosna M.
Pain Medicine and Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center,
MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine Graduate Hospital,
Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Pain Med. 2000 Mar;1(1):97-100.

ABSTRACT
Neuropathic pain is often resistant to opioids, so other medication classes, such as tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and local anesthetics, are often used. Central sensitization, or pain 'wind-up', may perpetuate chronic neuropathic pain even when ongoing peripheral sensory input is absent. Wind-up is thought to cause allodynia, hyperalgesia, and hyperpathia. Receptors such as NMDA, AMPA, and M-glu have recently been identified for their role in central sensitization or pain 'wind-up'. Ketamine has been proposed recently for neuropathic pain secondary to its NMDA receptor activity. The current application as a topical gel stems from the theory that ketamine has peripheral action at both opioid and Na+-K+ channels. This case study involved 5 patients from 25 to 70 years old (3 RSD, 1 lumbar radiculopathy, 1 post-herpetic neuralgia). Dose used was determined by site and surface area of involvement and ranged from 0.093 mg/kg to 9.33 mg/kg. All five patients reported significant pain relief at initial application and wished to continue treatment. The average numerical analogue scale (NAS) score preapplication was 8.8. The average 15 minutes post application NAS was 1.6. Patients reported alterations in temperature sensation, feelings of relaxation and decreased tension in the area of application, and pain relief. Reduction in numerical pain scores postapplication of ketamine gel ranged from 53-100% using a 1-10 numerical pain intensity scale. No significant side effects were reported. Ketamine Gel may provide clinicians with a new option in the battle against chronic neuropathic pain. Until further information is available and larger trials can be conducted, we can only recommend this type of therapy for refractory cases in which all primary and secondary options have been exhausted.

[watata]

Thanks for the article. Yes my father is a physician and is researching it more as well. I think it's worth a try before they get more invasive again. Thanks ladies!

[pdxmom]

I use a compounded ketamine/amitriptiline cream for genitofemoral nerve damage from a c-section. (My IC began with that surgery too.) It works great for me. I also use a lidocaine patch as needed.

[naturegal]

Has anyone used ketamine topically in the vulvar area? This is mucous membrane and is more sensitive than regular skin. If so do you tolerate it, or does it burn too much?

[skybluesoul]

Ketamine is part of the compounded cream I use. I use lidocaine first and let it kick in before I put the cream on my vulva. Otherwise, I can't stand the burning. I've continued with this cream because it's been the only one to help me at all with vestibulitis.

[meagain]

Is this the same ketamine as in the Article on ketaminebladdersyndrome.org. ?
Apparently there's some issue with ketamine causing IC?? Anyone?

[pdxmom]

I saw that also. It would be worth asking your doctor. I believe that study was based on people taking large amounts of ketamine orally, but I'm not certain. (Historically, oral ketamine has sometimes been abused as a rave/club drug.)

[skybluesoul]

I believe that study was based on people taking large amounts of ketamine orally. (Historically, oral ketamine has sometimes been abused as a rave/club drug.)

Yes, that's right.