Mr. Mira weighed the pros and cons of using the medication:
Pro: Experts from Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine see ketamine as an opioid-free alternative for pain management.
Con: Researchers from Stanford (Calif.) University found that the drug works the same way opioids do in the brain.
Pro: Ketamine can serve as a fast-acting antidepressant at low, sub-anesthetic doses, according to studies conducted in 2000 and 2006.
Con: Coding guidelines for ketamine treatment are highly specific, creating potential reimbursement challenges.
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