Successful treatment of postherpetic neuralgia with oral ketamine.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the possibilities of the use of oral ketamine in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.


METHODS
A pain clinic in a university hospital.


METHODS
A patient with postherpetic neuralgia of the ophthalmic nerve.


METHODS
Subcutaneous and later oral ketamine after classical treatment had failed.


RESULTS
A complete recovery was accomplished without any sign of side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral ketamine may provide an alternative in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. The possible mechanism of action by its N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blocking properties is discussed.
Department of Anesthesia, University Hospital of Antwerpen, Edegem, Belgium.
V
V
Hoffmann
H
H
Coppejans
M
M
Vercauteren
H
H
Adriaensen
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000473:pathology
D007649:Ketamine