Conditions we treat
Ketamine for Chronic Pain: A Careful, Supervised Approach
For some chronic pain conditions that have not responded to standard care, ketamine infusions may be considered as part of a supervised pain-management plan.
Chronic pain and its standard management
Chronic pain — pain that outlasts normal healing, often defined as pain persisting beyond three months — can become a condition of its own rather than a symptom of one. Good pain care is usually multimodal: physical therapy, medications, procedures, psychological support, or some combination of these.
When those approaches fall short, people understandably look further. Ketamine is one of the options that comes up — and it deserves the same honest scrutiny as everything else you have tried.
Where ketamine may fit
Ketamine has been studied for certain chronic pain conditions, particularly pain with a nerve-related component — neuropathic pain — and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Those are conditions studied in the research literature; being studied is not the same as established benefit, and results so far are mixed, with open questions about how long any relief may last.
Ketamine is not FDA-approved for chronic pain. When it is considered at all, it is an off-label option discussed after standard pain care has not brought adequate relief — not before.
What treatment involves when it is considered
For pain, ketamine is typically given as an IV infusion in a monitored setting, sometimes as a series. Dosing for pain differs from dosing for mood conditions, and protocols vary between clinics and between studies — one more reason individual evaluation matters.
Responses vary widely. Some people report meaningful relief; others notice little change. We track your response against goals we set together — function, sleep, and activity, not just a pain score — and adjust or stop based on what actually happens.
Working with your pain physician
Ketamine for pain should never be a solo venture. If you have a pain specialist, we coordinate with them — with your permission — reviewing your history, current medications, and previous procedures, and agreeing on how ketamine fits, or does not fit, your overall plan. If you do not have a pain specialist, finding one may be the first recommendation we make.
Do not stop or change any pain medication before your evaluation. Medication changes belong to you and your prescribers, made deliberately.
Safety and honest expectations
Session side effects — dissociation, nausea, dizziness, and temporary blood-pressure changes — are managed with monitoring. Longer-term questions, including the effects of repeated infusions over months or years, are still being studied, and we will not pretend otherwise.
If you are ever in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911 — this website is not for emergencies.
Common questions
No. Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, and it is not FDA-approved for chronic pain — use for pain conditions is off-label, supported by research that is still developing.
Mainly neuropathic pain conditions and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), along with a few others. Studied means research exists — not that benefit is established. We will review what the evidence says for your specific condition during evaluation.
No, and that is not the goal. When ketamine is considered, it is one part of a broader pain plan that usually continues to include your existing treatments and providers, coordinated with your pain physician.
A referral is not required to request a consultation. But coordination with your pain physician is part of how we work, and with your permission we involve them in planning before any treatment begins.
Sources & further reading
- International Association for the Study of Pain — IASP. Accessed 2026-07-23. Definitions and resources on chronic pain, including neuropathic pain and CRPS.
- FDA warns patients and health care providers about potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products — U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 2026-07-23.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Accessed 2026-07-23.
Links point to external organizations. Clear Ketamine Therapy does not control their content.
Reviewed by Editorial team (clinical review pending — see LAUNCH_CHECKLIST.md) · Last reviewed 2026-07-23. Medical reviewer: [Medical reviewer to be named before launch]. Educational information only — not medical advice or a substitute for care from your own clinicians.
Keep reading
- Am I a Candidate?Candidacy for ketamine therapy depends on your diagnosis, treatment history, health, and medications. Learn the factors clinicians weigh — and the next step.
- Safety & Side EffectsThe full safety picture: common short-term side effects, who should not receive ketamine, the FDA's compounded-ketamine warning, and our monitoring practices.
- What to ExpectA plain-language walkthrough of the full treatment process at our Tampa clinic — the evaluation, the sessions themselves, and the follow-up — including the parts that vary from person to person.
- Ketamine Therapy TampaPhysician-supervised ketamine therapy for adults in Tampa, Florida — what it is, who it may help, and how to take the first step.
Talk with our clinical team
A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. Ask questions, share what you are comfortable sharing, and learn whether ketamine therapy may be worth considering for you.
Not for emergencies — call or text 988 or 911 if you are in crisis.