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Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used medically for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. It is also used as a treatment for depression and pain management. It is a novel compound that was derived from phencyclidine in 1962 in pursuit of a safer anesthetic with fewer hallucinogenic effects.
- What is ketamine?
- Is ketamine a Controlled Substance?
- Why is ketamine abused?
- Related/similar drugs
- Ketamine side effects
- Who should not use ketamine?
- Before taking this medicine
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- How is ketamine given?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used in medical procedures to put you to sleep for surgery, and to prevent pain and discomfort. Ketamine for depression and anxiety is currently being researched, using lower doses. Ketamine is also a drug of abuse that is used illegally recreationally for its hallucinogenic properties and is known to be a “date rape” drug as it causes short-term memory loss.
When used for anesthesia, ketamine is given as an intravenous injection (IV) or as an intramuscular injection (IM). Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist.
Esketamine (Spravato), one of the forms of racemic ketamine, was approved in 2019 for specific types of depression. Spravato is a nasal spray that is used under strict medical supervision and is not used by patients at home.
Ketamine became an FDA-approved medicine on February 19, 1970, as a general anesthetic to be used as the sole anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures that do not require skeletal muscle relaxation. It is also used for the induction of anesthesia prior to the administration of other general anesthetic agents and as a supplement to other anesthetic agents.
Yes, In the U.S., ketamine is classified as a Schedule III drug under the DEA Controlled Substances Act. This means that ketamine has a potential for abuse that is less than the drugs in schedules I and II. Abuse of the ketamine may lead to a moderate to low potential for physical dependence but high psychological dependence. Drugs that are classi...
Ketamine is abused illegally due to its dissociative properties. Dissociative drugs can lead to distortion of sights, colors, sounds, self, and one's environment. It is often "snorted" up the nose, injected, mixed into drinks, or smoked with marijuana or tobacco. Other dissociative drugs include phencyclidine (PCP), Salvia divinorum, and dextromethorphan (DXM). Hallucinogens include LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline.
Abuse of large doses of this medicine can also lead to powerful visual hallucinations that are intensified by environmental stimuli. Coma and deep unconsciousness can occur. When higher doses of ketamine are abused or during emergence, it is reported to produce vivid dreams and an “out-of-body”, “K-hole” or “near-death” hallucinogenic experience, often reported as terrifying (similar to a bad LSD trip).
Abuse of ketamine can be linked with short-term and long-term problems:
•Short-term: Problems with attention, learning, and memory; dreamlike states, hallucinations; sedation; confusion; loss of memory; raised blood pressure; unconsciousness; dangerously slowed breathing.
•Long-term: Ulcers and pain in the bladder; kidney problems; stomach pain; depression; poor memory.
There is also the risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles.
lidocaine, fentanyl, hyoscyamine, propofol, glycopyrrolate, Diprivan
Common ketamine side effects, when used medically, include confusion or a dream-like feeling.
Serious ketamine side effects, when used medically, include:
Allergic reactions - get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction, including hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers if you have hallucinations or unusual thoughts while waking up from anesthesia.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
•painful or difficult urination, increased urination, loss of bladder control, blood in your urine;
Ketamine should not be used in patients for whom a significant elevation of blood pressure would constitute a serious hazard or in patients with known hypersensitivity to ketamine or to any excipient.
Ketamine pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)
You should not be treated with ketamine if you are allergic to it or if you have untreated or uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
•heart disease;
•high blood pressure;
•liver disease;
•alcoholism; or
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Anesthesia may affect brain development in a young child or unborn baby (when used in the mother), leading to learning or behavior problems later in life. Long surgeries or repeated procedures pose the highest risks.
Anesthesia may still be necessary for a life-threatening condition, medical emergency, or surgery to correct a birth defect. Your doctor can inform you about all medicines given during a surgery or procedure.
Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed shortly after you receive ketamine.
Ketamine is injected into a muscle or a vein when used medically. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely.
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Dec 29, 2023 · Is ketamine a treatment for depression? What are the risks? Learn about the uses, benefits, and side effects of ketamine.
Jul 25, 2023 · Ketamine (Ketalar) is a dissociative anesthetic. Doctors use it to induce general anesthesia for medical procedures that do not require muscle relaxation. General anesthesia denotes a...
Jan 26, 2024 · What is ketamine? Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist, meaning it blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate neurotransmitter in the brain. It was developed in the 1960s and used as a battlefield anesthetic in the Vietnam War, as well as clinically in health care settings.
Dec 19, 2022 · IV-infused ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic for surgical and medical procedures. In recent years, ketamine has increasingly been used as an antidepressant to treat TRD — considered off-label use. Ketamine delivered in low doses can provide rapid relief of TRD lasting for days to weeks.
Apr 9, 2024 · A drug made from ketamine, called esketamine, is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine has also been illegally manufactured for decades as a recreational drug. Ketamine can cause strong mood and mind effects.
