Ketamine

Ketamine is used as an anesthetic for surgery, a treatment for depression, and is a drug of abuse. Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic to put you to sleep for surgery and to help prevent pain and discomfort. Ketamine for depression is an off-label use, and its use for depression is currently being researched in clinical trials. It 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. Ketamine is not an opioid (narcotic); it is an NMDA receptor antagonist, which means it blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) neurotransmitter in the brain. When used for anesthesia, ketamine is given as an intravenous injection (IV) or as an intramuscular injection (IM). Esketamine ( Spravato ) is used to treat depression; it is one of the forms of racemic ketamine and was FDA-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 is FDA-approved 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 to induce anesthesia prior to the administration of other general anesthetic agents and as a supplement to other anesthetic agents. Ketamine is not FDA-approved for depression; it is used off-label for this condition.

Ketamine is used as an anesthetic for surgery, a treatment for depression, and is a drug of abuse. Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic to put you to sleep for surgery and to help prevent pain and discomfort. Ketamine for depression is an off-label use, and its use for depression is currently being researched in clinical trials. It 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. Ketamine is not an opioid (narcotic); it is an NMDA receptor antagonist, which means it blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) neurotransmitter in the brain. When used for anesthesia, ketamine is given as an intravenous injection (IV) or as an intramuscular injection (IM). Esketamine ( Spravato ) is used to treat depression; it is one of the forms of racemic ketamine and was FDA-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 is FDA-approved 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 to induce anesthesia prior to the administration of other general anesthetic agents and as a supplement to other anesthetic agents. Ketamine is not FDA-approved for depression; it is used off-label for this condition.

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 if you drink large amounts of alcohol.

No side effects information is recorded for this medicine yet.

Emergence reactions Tell your caregivers if you have hallucinations or unusual thoughts while waking up from anesthesia. Hemodynamic instability Temporary increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac index may be observed during administration. Vital signs and cardiac function should be monitored during administration. Risk of respiratory depression may occur with overdosage or too rapid a rate of administration. Maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation Risks of using ketamine alone for procedures of the pharynx, larynx, or bronchial tree Pharyngeal and laryngeal reflexes are not suppressed with ketamine when it is used alone. Avoid use as a sole anesthetic agent in surgery or diagnostic procedures of the pharynx, larynx, or bronchial tree. Muscle relaxants may be required. Pediatric neurotoxicity Studies conducted in young animals and children suggest repeated or prolonged use of general anesthetic or sedation drugs in children younger than 3 years may have negative effects on their developing brains. Discuss with parents and caregivers the benefits, risks, timing, and duration of surgery or procedures requiring anesthetic and sedation drugs. Drug-induced liver injury is associated with the administration of this medicine. Increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure An increase in intracranial pressure has been reported following the administration of this medicine. Patients with elevated intracranial pressure should be in a monitored setting with frequent neurologic assessments. FDA warning . The FDA released a warning on October 10, 2023, about about potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products, including oral formulations, for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, as they have not been evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality prior to marketing. When these products are used at home, there is an additional risk because onsite monitoring by a healthcare provider is not available

Emergence reactions Tell your caregivers if you have hallucinations or unusual thoughts while waking up from anesthesia. Hemodynamic instability Temporary increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac index may be observed during administration. Vital signs and cardiac function should be monitored during administration. Risk of respiratory depression may occur with overdosage or too rapid a rate of administration. Maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation Risks of using ketamine alone for procedures of the pharynx, larynx, or bronchial tree Pharyngeal and laryngeal reflexes are not suppressed with ketamine when it is used alone. Avoid use as a sole anesthetic agent in surgery or diagnostic procedures of the pharynx, larynx, or bronchial tree. Muscle relaxants may be required. Pediatric neurotoxicity Studies conducted in young animals and children suggest repeated or prolonged use of general anesthetic or sedation drugs in children younger than 3 years may have negative effects on their developing brains. Discuss with parents and caregivers the benefits, risks, timing, and duration of surgery or procedures requiring anesthetic and sedation drugs. Drug-induced liver injury is associated with the administration of this medicine. Increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure An increase in intracranial pressure has been reported following the administration of this medicine. Patients with elevated intracranial pressure should be in a monitored setting with frequent neurologic assessments. FDA warning . The FDA released a warning on October 10, 2023, about about potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products, including oral formulations, for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, as they have not been evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality prior to marketing. When these products are used at home, there is an additional risk because onsite monitoring by a healthcare provider is not available

No adult dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

No child dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

No neonatal dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

It may take you longer to recover from anesthesia if you use other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing. This includes opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures . Other drugs may affect ketamine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins , and herbal products . Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use. Tell your doctor if you take theophylline, aminophylline, sympathomimetic medications, vasopressin, benzodiazepines, opioid analgesics, or other CNS depressants. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

No storage information is recorded for this medicine yet.