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.

SETTING

A pain clinic in a university hospital.

PATIENT: A patient with postherpetic neuralgia of the ophthalmic nerve.

INTERVENTION: 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.