Pharmacotherapy
Amanda Mullins, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner Pain Management
VA St. Louis Healthcare System
St. Louis, Missouri
Chris Herndon, PharmD, BCACP, FCCP
Professor
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy
Edwardsville, IL
The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has played a role in pain management for years. However, evidence to support use of NMDA antagonists can be hard to interpret and is often contradicting. This presentation will focus on the physiology of the NMDA receptor, its role in windup/central sensitization, and the existing evidence for use of NMDA antagonists, including amantadine, ketamine, memantine, and dextromethorphan in pain management.