Case Reports Showing a Long-Term Effect of Subanesthetic Ketamine Infusion in Reducing L -DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias

Scott J. Sherman, Miguel Estevez, Ari B. Magill, Torsten Falk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ketamine is an FDA-approved drug with a known safety profile. Low-dose subanesthetic intravenous ketamine infusion treatment has led to long-term reduction of treatment-resistant depression and of chronic pain states. We report on low-dose subanesthetic intravenous ketamine infusion treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients by 5 case studies and show a long-lasting therapeutic benefit to reduce L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID), improve on time, and reduce depression. Based on the literature we hypothesize that low-dose ketamine may act as a 'chemical deep brain stimulation', by desynchronizing hypersynchronous oscillatory brain activity, including in the basal ganglia and the motor cortex. The presented PD case reports indicate tolerability, safety and long-term beneficial effects of low-dose ketamine infusion that should be further investigated in a properly controlled prospective clinical trial for treatment of LID, as well as the prevalent nonmotor features pain and depression in PD patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)53-58
Number of pages6
JournalCase Reports in Neurology
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Hypersynchrony
  • Levodopa
  • NMDA receptors
  • Pain
  • Parkinson's disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology

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