| 摘要 |
A drug that inhibits NMDA receptors (such as ketamine, a surgical anesthetic) is continuously administered to patients suffering from neuropathic pain. Unless the NMDA antagonist drug has inherent safening activity, this treatment requires a "safener" drug to prevent the neurotoxic side effects of NMDA antagonists. One class of safener drugs that increase the efficacy of the treatment include alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, such as clonidine. The treatment lasts for several days and nights, continuously. A maximum tolerated dosage is titered for each patient, such as by observing slurring of speech, and the patient does not lose consciousness except during normal sleep. Magnesium and/or drugs that inhibit ketamine-degrading enzymes can also be used. Patients who suffered for years from chronic intractable pain emerged from this treatment with apparently permanent relief, or with lasting reductions in their levels of pain.
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