{"title":"The Emerging Role of Ketamine and Esketamine in the Concurrent Management of Pain and Depression in Cancer Patients: Evidence and Implications for Practice.","authors":"Shannon Moriarty, Anna Dushenkov, Kathleen M Frey","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2025.2607541","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2025.2607541","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer patients frequently experience pain and depression, yet current guidelines address these conditions separately and do not recommend a single agent for concurrent management. Ketamine and its S-enantiomer esketamine, through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism and glutamate modulation, may offer dual benefit. This paper examined ten clinical studies published between 2018 and 2024 evaluating ketamine and esketamine for concurrent cancer-related pain and depression. Evidence was heterogeneous but promising. Two randomized controlled trials in post-surgical breast and cervical cancer patients demonstrated that intravenous (IV) esketamine and racemic ketamine improved both pain and depression, with esketamine showing greater, longer-lasting benefit. When pain was the primary outcome, results were mixed: IV esketamine provided dual benefit in one trial, whereas racemic ketamine produced variable or nonsignificant effects across IV, intranasal (IN), and oral routes. In depression-focused studies, IV and IN administration consistently improved mood, even without pain relief. Dose-response relationships were observed, with esketamine outperforming ketamine and higher IN dosing yielding stronger antidepressant effects. Adverse effects were generally mild and transient, though cardiovascular, urinary, and cognitive risks remain concerns. With rapid dual action, ketamine and esketamine may serve as valuable adjunctive therapies in palliative care. Further studies should clarify optimal dosing, route, and long-term safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"282-293"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145846761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Muhammad Tayyab Azam, Zain Ul Abideen Shahid, Muhammad Arif Khan, Shahzad Ashraf, Talha Aamir, Sufyan Ahmed, Saad Ashraf
{"title":"Efficacy and Safety of Anrikefon (HSK21542) for Postoperative Pain. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.","authors":"Muhammad Tayyab Azam, Zain Ul Abideen Shahid, Muhammad Arif Khan, Shahzad Ashraf, Talha Aamir, Sufyan Ahmed, Saad Ashraf","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2641549","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2641549","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Postoperative pain remains one of the most prevalent and inadequately managed complications after surgery. Conventional μ-opioid agonists, while effective, carry risks of dependence, and gastrointestinal intolerance. Anrikefon (HSK21542), a novel peripherally restricted κ-opioid receptor agonist, offers potent analgesia without central opioid-related adverse effects. However, evidence across clinical trials remains fragmented. To address this gap, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis. Comprehensive searches of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov through November 2025, identified three Randomized Controlled Trials (<i>n</i> = 718) evaluating intravenous Anrikefon (1.0 µg/kg) versus placebo for postoperative pain. Pooled analysis using random-effects models demonstrated a significant improvement in SPID<sub>0</sub>-<sub>24</sub>h with Anrikefon (MD = -14.73; 95% CI -21.7 to -7.75; <i>p</i> < 0.0001), and reduced rescue analgesic use within 12 h (RR = 0.59; 95% CI 0.49-0.71; <i>p</i> < 0.00001). The proportion of patients achieving Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) ≤ 3 at 12 h was higher with Anrikefon (RR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.07-1.75; <i>p</i> = 0.01). The overall incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was low, with one trial reporting non-inferior efficacy and notably fewer gastrointestinal adverse events compared with intravenous tramadol (50 mg). These findings support Anrikefon as a promising adjunct with potentially lower risk for dependence, warranting further large-scale and comparative investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"255-270"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147491238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jordan Karow, Regina M Mackey, Emily Olson, Rachel Wiste, Leslie Siegel, Darrell R Schroeder, Jacob Strand, Maria I Lapid
{"title":"Methylene Blue Mouthwash for Oral Mucositis Pain in Cancer: An Open-Label, Non-Randomized Study.","authors":"Jordan Karow, Regina M Mackey, Emily Olson, Rachel Wiste, Leslie Siegel, Darrell R Schroeder, Jacob Strand, Maria I Lapid","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2655779","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2655779","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Oral mucositis (OM) pain in patients undergoing cancer treatments remains inadequately managed with conventional treatments. This study aimed to examine pain outcomes associated with methylene blue (MB) mouthwash compared with a standard supportive care mouthrinse in hospitalized patients with OM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this open label, non-randomized clinical trial, patients selected MB (0.05%) or standard-of-care mixed medication mouthwash. Both groups performed an oral rinse every 8 h for three days. The primary outcome was change in pain numeric rating scores (0-10) from pre-administration to post-administration. Secondary outcomes included changes in daily oral intake volume and opioid use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty-three evaluable patients were included in the analysis. Using a linear mixed model with subject-specific intercepts, both treatment groups demonstrated statistically significant reductions in pain from pre- to post- administration (standard of care: estimate=-0.64, 95% CI [-1.23, -0.05], <i>p</i> = 0.034; MB estimate=-0.87, 95% CI [-1.31, -0.42], <i>p</i> < 0.001). The administration timing-by-treatment interaction effect was not statistically significant, indicating that pain reduction did not differ significantly between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this non-randomized study, MB mouthwash was associated with short-term pain reductions in OM-related pain similar to standard-of-care mouthwash. These findings support feasibility and tolerability and underscore the need for larger randomized trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"230-236"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147654372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intense Coughing Following Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection for Lumbar and Lumbo-Sacral Disc Prolapse with Radiculopathy. A Case Report with Pathophysiological Insights.","authors":"Ankur Khandelwal, Kalyan Sarma, Kashif Akhtar Ahmed, Priyadarshi Dikshit","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2645014","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2645014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI) is a commonly performed intervention for chronic lumbar and lumbosacral radicular pain, generally considered safe with infrequent adverse effects. We report a rare case of sudden-onset, intense coughing immediately following ultrasound-guided CESI in a 32-year-old male with prolapsed intervertebral disks at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. The episode lasted approximately four minutes and resolved spontaneously without neurological or hemodynamic compromise. Possible mechanisms include cephalad spread of the injectate, inadvertent intravascular injection or dural puncture, systemic drug absorption, allergic reactions to the local anesthetic, steroid, or preservatives, and individual hypersensitivity. This case highlights an unusual, self-limiting complication of CESI and emphasizes the need for vigilant monitoring during interventional pain procedures.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"366-368"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147468365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder with Chronic Pain: Clinical Evidence and Mechanistic Basis for a Multimodal Pharmacotherapeutic Approach.","authors":"Antonio Alcántara Montero","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2647884","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2647884","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"184-186"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147512898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christopher Manners, Abigail Bautista, Jonathan Shammash, Robert DeMott
{"title":"Case Report: Oral Fluphenazine for Treatment of Chronic Sacral Pain.","authors":"Christopher Manners, Abigail Bautista, Jonathan Shammash, Robert DeMott","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2025.2607547","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2025.2607547","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Management of chronic pain syndromes represent significant challenges to clinicians. Fluphenazine was shown to attenuate mechanical allodynia in rat neuropathic pain models via antagonism of voltage gated sodium channels and has been identified as a candidate drug for chronic pain. We present a 66 year old man with treatment-refractory chronic pain syndrome. Right ischial pain developed over time as a result of his years practicing as a dentist sitting on a stool with a tilted seat pan. Imaging and neurologic investigations led to a presumed diagnosis of chronic microtears of the sacrotuberous ligament. The patient failed to respond to multiple modes of therapy. Prescribed medications included amitriptyline, celecoxib, duloxetine, gabapentin, muscle relaxants, opioids, and quetiapine. Procedures included facet and trigger point injections, platelet-rich plasma injections, and prolotherapy. Nonpharmacologic modalities included acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, osteopathic manipulation therapy, physical therapy, and psychotherapy. He then underwent an outpatient, nine-month course of oral fluphenazine, in which his pain was controlled successfully, resulting in resumption of normal sleep and daily activities per the patient. This case suggests fluphenazine as a monotherapy for refractory chronic pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"349-354"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145862979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chronic Pain Management: From Ancient Healing Practices to Advanced Medical Innovation.","authors":"Sanie Zehra Shaikh, Gaurav Doshi","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2624505","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2624505","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent global health issues, significantly impacting physical and psychological health and resulting in reduced quality of life and a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. Given its multifactorial nature, effective management of chronic pain requires a multidisciplinary approach to enhance treatment outcomes and reduce the long-term burden. This narrative review, based on relevant literature and aims to provide an extensive overview of chronic pain by tracing the evolution of its management strategies from ancient practices to modern therapeutic approaches. The review integrates the historical perspectives on pain management, including the roles of traditional and herbal medicines, acupuncture, and ayurveda in chronic pain management. It explores the evolution of pharmacological treatments, including the use of opioid and non-opioid analgesics. It covers non-pharmacological therapies such as physiotherapy and yoga, as well as integrative approaches in modern pain management. Furthermore, it highlights the recent advancements in chronic pain management, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, neuromodulation, and virtual reality, which have the potential to transform treatment strategies, identifies the existing barriers to effective pain management and key research gaps, to enhance future treatment outcomes and improve the quality of life of patients with chronic pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"321-342"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146150124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What Remains After Cure: Shadows of Treatment.","authors":"Vangipuram Harshil Sai","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2627301","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2627301","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"175-176"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146165816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}