Ketamine Treatment Options in Los Angeles, CA

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of each individual dose of esketamine nasal spray, 56 milligram (mg) and 84 mg, compared with placebo nasal spray in improving depressive symptoms in participants with treatment resistant depression (TRD), as assessed by the change from baseline in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score from Day 1 (prerandomization) to the end of the 4 week double-blind treatment phase (Day 28). Read Less

This is a prospective, single center, double blind, randomized, crossover feasibility study of oral ketamine versus placebo for the treatment of anxiety in patients with pancreatic cancer currently receiving or within 12 weeks of receiving cancer targeted therapy. The primary objective is to determine the feasibility of enrolling subjects and treatment adherence. The secondary objectives are to describe the safety and tolerability. Exploratory objectives are to assess the effect of ketamine/placebo on Depression, Anxiety, Physical Function, Pain Interference, Pain Intensity, Fatigue, Sleep Disturbance, and Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities as measured by PROMIS Anxiety Short Form 7a and the PROMIS-29 Profile v2.1 of Patient Reported Outcomes, as well as changes in circulatory inflammatory cytokines, blood glutamine levels, and other biomarkers of anxiety and/or depression. Read Less

Pain is common in children presenting to the emergency department but is frequently undertreated, leading to both short- and long-term consequences. Morphine is the standard treatment for children with moderate to severe acute pain, but its use is associated with serious side effects and caregiver and clinician concerns related to opioid administration. The investigators aim to determine if sub-dissociative ketamine is non-inferior to morphine for treating acute pain and a preferable alternative for treating acute pain in children because of its more favorable side effect profile and potential long-term benefits related to pain-related function, analgesic use/misuse, and mental and behavioral health outcomes. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of Ketamine HCl Prolonged Release (PR) tablets in participants with pain due to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Additionally, this trial will explore the feasibility of the trial design through dosing compliance, clinical instruments, and efficacy signals. Read Less

To compare the outcomes of the use of propofol, etomidate, and ketamine as induction agents for adult trauma patients undergoing intubation within 24 hours of admission. The primary goal is to determine the ideal agent that should be used in this patient population for intubations. Read Less

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a relatively new approach for the treatment of mental health issues, which involves the combination of ketamine, a dissociative anaesthetic with psychedelic properties, and psychotherapy to promote emotional wellbeing. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of KAP in adult patients coping with mental health. We predicted that clients would experience lasting reductions in psychological distress over time, such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress, that would be detectable up to 6 months after treatment. The results of this study may provide evidence of sustained real-world effects of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, of interest to patients, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. Read Less

The purpose of this research is to determine the pain-reducing effects of ketamine (Ketalar, an FDA-approved drug for anesthesia) and methadone (Dolophine, a long-acting narcotic) after lumbar laminectomy. The investigators would like to evaluate whether intraoperative use of both drugs may be able to provide better control of pain after lumbar surgery. Read Less

This pilot study will assess the safety and feasibility of intravenous (IV) ketamine in older adults with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). In addition, this study will develop and utilize innovative methodological approaches to demonstrate the feasibility of precision medicine and mobile health approaches in depression treatment. Read Less

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of ketamine as an analgesic adjuvant in decreasing the narcotic (opioids) analgesics during surgery, on pain management and on the later recovery after surgery in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to compare different combinations of anesthetic drugs (cause loss of sensation) in terms of effectiveness, adverse effects, pain relief, and patient comfort for cardiac electrophysiology procedures. In addition, the investigators are studying the different anesthetic combinations to determine the best approach in terms of identification and treatment of arrhythmias. Read Less

The drug Ketamine, available in medical practice since the late 1960s, is currently used for inducing general anesthesia or sedation during medical procedures. When given slowly as an injection into a vein, ketamine is shown to produce a very rapid effect on depression and to improve depressive symptoms within hours to days. By studying patients who receive a ketamine IV infusion, as an add-on treatment for depression, investigators may start to understand how changes in the brain or in gene function relate to getting better over a very short period of time. In this study, the investigators will enroll 60 patients currently ill with major depression selected to receive IV ketamine therapy under medical supervision. To study neurobiological changes relating to symptom improvement, the investigators will use advanced brain scans to measure brain structure, chemistry and function. Blood samples will measure changes in gene regulation and immune system response. Although some people have a rapid antidepressant response to ketamine, others do not respond. Also, antidepressant effects after ketamine usually wear off within days to weeks. We will determine if up to four doses of ketamine delivered two to three times a week may prolong antidepressant response to ketamine therapy. To determine the durability of ketamine treatment for depression, patients will be monitored by phone and via electronic devices twice a week for up to five weeks and will return for a final assessment when their symptoms return. For this trial, brain and blood sample measurements will occur before and after a patient receives their first ketamine infusion. Patients who do not remit after an initial dose of ketamine, will receive up to three additional ketamine treatments. Mood will be measured 24-hours after each subsequent ketamine infusion and brain and blood measurements be repeated at the time of remission or after the fourth ketamine infusion if remission does not occur. Patients will return for a final brain scan and blood sample when their depressive symptoms return or at five weeks if they continue remission. Investigators will able to see how changes brain measurements, gene regulation and immune response relate to improvements and relapse of depressive symptoms with ketamine IV therapy. The ketamine infusion sessions will occur at a special research unit (CTRC) at UCLA. Read Less

The primary purpose of this study is to see if it is safe to give patients with pancreatic or head and neck cancer a low dose of the FDA approved anesthetic drug ketamine at the same time they receive radiation and/or chemotherapy for their cancer treatment to prevent depression and its effects. Researchers would also like to see if giving ketamine at the same time as cancer treatment is practical and reasonably acceptable to the patient. New onset depression is highly frequent in those with head and neck cancer, and depression has many negative consequences for outcomes in those patients. Depression has been known to have greater incidence in pancreatic cancer patients than in patients with other malignancies. Therefore, investigators would also like to see if giving patients ketamine during their routine cancer treatment will prevent the onset of depression and its negative effects on cancer treatment outcomes, and also help with anxiety, pain, and quality of life. The study will also use a placebo to compare to the good and/or bad effects of ketamine. A placebo is not an active drug and it will be look the same as ketamine, as a liquid to be taken by mouth. Ketamine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a general anesthetic by itself for some diagnostic and surgical procedures or combined with other general anesthetic agents. It has also been shown to reduce cancer pain. Ketamine is considered experimental in this study because it is not approved by the FDA for the prevention of depression. Read Less