A Phase 2/3 interventional study of IM ketamine in dose finding and then continuation in Phantom Limb Syndrome With Pain, sponsored by The Ketamine Research Foundation. Recruiting at 4 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-18.
Sponsored by The Ketamine Research Foundation · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Treatment
Must be living Within a 50 mile radius of our study sites: Bay Area, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Sacramento, Los Angeles
An anecdotal report with administration of ketamine in a non-clinical setting providing and sustained remission of symptoms after 6 years has furthered the interest in ascertaining if ketamine might indeed be a successful intervention. (See Wolfson and Barocchi).
Ketamine has shown benefit in a variety of pain and neurological disorders. Its exploration for these continues and there appears to be an expanding use of ketamine for difficult to treat syndromes. Phantom limb pain occurs in over 50% of amputees, tends to be immediate in onset, but may occur at a later time. It is often excruciating, with a high frequency of episodes that tend to diminish with time-- variably. Its treatment is reliant on opioids and other pain medications usually with limited results. Acupuncture has been minimally explored with no clear results. Our study aims at clarifying ketamine's status for this particular disorder.
This is an off-label use of RS ketamine for clinical purposes. Each subject of the 25-30 enrolled in the study will have up to 16 ketamine sessions over six months time, Subjects will be continued in the study if the partial or complete remission period is seven days or more, If less, subjects will be considered to have not adequately responded to the protocol's provision of IM ketamine. Dosage of ketamine will be determined in the initial session with a dosage escalation protocol with an upper limit of 120mg--that limit not to be exceeded for the duration of each subject's participation in the study.. The time for a succeeding session of ketamine is variable depending on response and therefore the duration of the remission--not to be less than 7 days as the minimum consideration for a response, Subjects will receive support throughout their sessions and these will be conducted with integration following the medication, much as in the ketamine assisted psychotherapy model practiced by us as clinicians.
As PLP has its emotional impact as well as its complex pain presentation, these parameters will be followed with a variety of assessment tools. The nature of each subjects PLP syndrome will be analyzed in detail as well as the particularity of responses to the elements of the syndrome..
Living Within a 50 mile radius of our study sites: Bay Area, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Sacramento, Los Angeles
163 studies on the registry are indexed under Phantom Limb; 35 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is close to the median of 30 across 125 interventional studies indexed under Phantom Limb.
Browse Phantom Limb studies →The Ketamine Research Foundation is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria:
Systolic BP> 150 mmHg.
HR \<50 or >110 bpm.
Exclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria
Theophylline Or Aminophyline --Excluded
Concomitant medications:
Inclusion Criteria:
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Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Drug: IM ketamine in dose finding and then continuation
Intermittent ketamine treatment based on response
McGill Pain Questionnaire SF-MPQ-2
A complex assassement measure for complex pain presentations
Time frame: 6 months per subject with a 12 month follow-up
Plan to share: Yes — Outcome data for each participant
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
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The Ketamine Research Foundation