I have just changed medical practitioners after my current G.P. retired.
My pain levels have been progressively getting worse and as I am on high levels of OxyContin (oxycodone) daily. My doctor, not wanting to increase the dose, suggested ketamine spray for breakthrough pain.
I have had ketamine IV in hospital with no problems, but had never heard of a spray for breakthrough pain before. He is currently trying to see if it is available in Australia and at what dosage it would be administered.
If anyone here has used the spray, would love to hear your thoughts on effects, dosage, etc
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Tori - Name: Victoria
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Ketamine spray for breakthrough pain?
Hi Tori,
Sorry to hear about the pain you've been experiencing. I hope it's gotten better since your posting earlier this month.
What are the laws in Australia concerning pharmacists making "custom versions" of drugs, such as nasally administered versions of drugs that might otherwise be given differently, such as an injection? Here is the U.S., there isn't any officially approved version of ketamine available as a nasal spray, but it is possible for physicians to write a prescription for it, and then have the prescription filled by what is called a "compounding pharmacy" – that is, a pharmacy that creates the nasally administered version of the drug.
I did a quick search, and it looks like such pharmacies are legal and exist in Australia.
As an alternative to ketamine, you could consider fast-acting forms of the opioid fentanyl. One such forum is the lollipop" version of fentanyl (Actiq is the brand name), which you rub on the inside of your cheek, and which is approved for treating breakthrough pain. I think it's approved and reimbursed in Australia under the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS).
There's also a fast-dissolving table version of fentanyl that can be used for breakthrough pain. However, from what I could find through some searches on the Internet, it's approved in Australia but not reimbursed by the PBS.
Sorry to hear about the pain you've been experiencing. I hope it's gotten better since your posting earlier this month.
What are the laws in Australia concerning pharmacists making "custom versions" of drugs, such as nasally administered versions of drugs that might otherwise be given differently, such as an injection? Here is the U.S., there isn't any officially approved version of ketamine available as a nasal spray, but it is possible for physicians to write a prescription for it, and then have the prescription filled by what is called a "compounding pharmacy" – that is, a pharmacy that creates the nasally administered version of the drug.
I did a quick search, and it looks like such pharmacies are legal and exist in Australia.
As an alternative to ketamine, you could consider fast-acting forms of the opioid fentanyl. One such forum is the lollipop" version of fentanyl (Actiq is the brand name), which you rub on the inside of your cheek, and which is approved for treating breakthrough pain. I think it's approved and reimbursed in Australia under the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS).
There's also a fast-dissolving table version of fentanyl that can be used for breakthrough pain. However, from what I could find through some searches on the Internet, it's approved in Australia but not reimbursed by the PBS.
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Jonah
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