Opioids are frequently prescribed in the emergency department (ED) to ease the pain. Effective substitutes are being explored in response to an epidemic of opioid misuse. This review elucidated that Low-dose ketamine (LDK) is one opioid alternative for the acute pain treatment in the ED.

To assess whether LDK is an efficient and safe opioid option for decreased acute pain among adults in the ED setting. 

A comparison was done between LDK and intravenous opioids to provide relief from pain in the ED. Studies, where the control group obtained opioids before ketamine were eliminated. The electronic search strategy was invented using the research librarian. The relative effects of LDK and opioids in the management of acute pain were used to evaluate the changes in numeric rating scale pain or visual analog scales.

Three studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Ketamine was not inferior as compared to the pain scale decrease with morphine. No study showed any severe adverse events, but higher percentages of nonsevere adverse events were noted with ketamine.

ketamine can be recognised as an option to opioids for ED short-term pain control.