Cleveland Clinic Study Validates Low Dose Ketamine for Chronic Pain
Cleveland Clinic has published the largest study to date examining low dose ketamine infusions for chronic refractory pain, tracking outcomes from 1,034 patients who received treatment between May 2021 and October 2024. The research shows that patients experienced improvements in several pain related symptoms after completing a five day protocol, with no adverse effects requiring treatment discontinuation.
Do you work in the ketamine industry? We launched the Healing Health Alliance, which is the first national provider network and GPO (Group Purchasing Organization) exclusively for ketamine practitioners and clinic owners. We will bring you significant cost savings and revenue generating opportunities. There’s no cost or obligation and you can join now!
| Key Finding | Detail |
|---|---|
| Completion Rate | 86.1% of patients completed at least 5 infusions |
| Protocol | 0.5 mg/kg infused over 40 minutes for 5 consecutive days |
| Meaningful Improvement | 20.3% to 46.4% achieved clinically significant results |
| Safety Profile | Zero adverse events requiring emergency response |
| Long Term Results | Improvements maintained at 6 month follow up |
Looking for treatment? Find ketamine clinics closest to you as well as other psychedelic therapies in your area.
A Straightforward Approach to Stubborn Pain
The protocol represents a standardized approach that healthcare providers can implement with confidence. Patients receive treatment at an outpatient infusion center where experienced nurses maintain a 1:2 ratio with patients. The regimen also includes ondansetron to prevent nausea, one of ketamine’s most common side effects.
For people living with chronic pain who have exhausted conventional treatments like prescription medications, physical therapy, and interventional procedures, this offers a new pathway forward. The research demonstrates that nearly half of participants experienced meaningful improvement in pain catastrophizing, which strongly predicts treatment response across all pain interventions.
Beyond Just Reducing Pain Scores
The study measured multiple dimensions of wellbeing, finding statistically significant improvements in fatigue, pain interference, and social role satisfaction. These metrics matter because chronic pain affects far more than sensation. It shapes daily functioning, relationships, and quality of life.
Unlike opioids, ketamine can improve both the experience of pain itself and the distress associated with it. This dual action addresses what pain specialists call suffering, the broader impact that chronic pain has on someone’s life.
Real World Evidence Matters
The pragmatic study design reflects how patients actually receive care, allowing participants to continue other treatments like physical therapy or chiropractic care alongside ketamine infusions. This means the results show what happens in actual clinical practice rather than in tightly controlled experimental conditions.
The research team hopes their findings will encourage insurers to cover ketamine infusions for refractory pain conditions and help the treatment gain wider acceptance as a safe, effective option.
