Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42115000›Full record

ArticlePharmacotherapy2026

Continuous Subcutaneous Ketamine Infusion May Induce Tacrolimus and Sirolimus Clearance: A Case Report.

Jana Stojanova, Bridin Murnion, Fay Burrows, Lilibeth Carlos, Tomoyuki Mizuno, Takanobu Nadai, Kei Irie, Nuala Helsby, Kavitha Muthiah, Richard Day

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Pharmacotherapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jana StojanovaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4812-5745
Bridin MurnionDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7791-3025
Fay BurrowsPharmacy Department, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Lilibeth CarlosPharmacy Department, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Tomoyuki MizunoDivision of Translational and Clinical Pharmacology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8471-9826
Takanobu NadaiDivision of Translational and Clinical Pharmacology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Kei IrieDivision of Translational and Clinical Pharmacology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Nuala HelsbyMolecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0001-6570-5368
Kavitha MuthiahSchool of Clinical Medicine, St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3293-7119
Richard DayDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6045-6937

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDrug interactions involving immunosuppressants can compromise transplant outcomes. Although repeated ketamine administration induces hepatic enzymes in experimental models, clinical reports of induced clearance of cytochrome P450 (CYP) substrates are lacking. Continuous subcutaneous ketamine infusions are increasingly used for acute pain management. We present a case of difficult-to-maintain tacrolimus and sirolimus concentrations in the context of subcutaneous ketamine infusion for acute pain management.

methodsA 55-year-old male heart transplant recipient received continuous subcutaneous ketamine (5.2-10.4 mg/h) for pain management following lower limb thrombectomy. Tacrolimus and sirolimus concentrations were monitored throughout hospitalization and rehabilitation. Population pharmacokinetic modeling with Bayesian estimation characterized temporal clearance changes, incorporating inter-occasion variability across six periods (pre-, during-, and weekly post-ketamine administration for 4 weeks).

resultsFollowing ketamine initiation, tacrolimus and sirolimus concentrations remained subtherapeutic despite dose escalations of 1.8-fold and 5-fold, respectively. Pharmacokinetic modeling revealed approximately 2-fold clearance increases during ketamine administration, peaking 1 week after initiation. Following ketamine discontinuation, tacrolimus and sirolimus concentrations progressively increased over 3 weeks, consistent with enzyme induction and recovery. Drug Interaction Probability Scale assessment indicated probable interaction (score + 5). Brief concomitant flucloxacillin use may have contributed to the observed changes.

conclusionsThis case provides preliminary evidence of potential interaction between ketamine and CYP3A4-metabolized immunosuppressants. Clinicians should consider increased therapeutic drug monitoring when using ketamine with narrow therapeutic range medications, continuing approximately 3 weeks post-discontinuation.

Indexed as

AnalgesicsImmunosuppressive AgentsKetamineSirolimusTacrolimusDrug InteractionsHeart TransplantationHumansMaleMiddle AgedAnalgesicsImmunosuppressive AgentsKetamineSirolimusTacrolimusCYP3A4drug interactionenzyme inductionimmunosuppressionketaminesirolimustacrolimustherapeutic drug monitoringtransplant

Identifiers

PMID42115000
PMCPMC13160711

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.