What is Ketamine?
By Jennifer Hammond Eze MSN, CRNA, ARNP
Ketamine, a derivative of Phencyclidine, is an anesthetic medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1970. It is listed as an essential medication for anesthesia and pain management by the World Health Organization. Ketamine was first synthesized by Calvin L. Stevens PhD in 1962. The clinical effect of Ketamine is produced through inhibition of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Ketamine also binds to opioid, noradrenergic, cholinergic, nicotinic, and muscarinic receptors.
How is Ketamine used in health care?
Ketamine is used for sedation, analgesia, and general anesthesia. When Ketamine is used for sedation, the patient is able to maintain their respirations and airway reflexes.
Ketamine is also used as an analgesic agent; it has been shown to reduce acute postoperative pain. It is usually given as an infusion intraoperatively and postoperatively to manage pain. Patients with chronic pain also benefit from Ketamine administration. Studies in patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) show that there is a decrease in pain scores and opioid consumption when Ketamine is administered.
Ketamine is used to induce general anesthesia, out of all the intravenous anesthetic agents, it comes close to a complete anesthetic in the sense that it produces analgesia, amnesia, and unconsciousness. Ketamine has been described as causing a dissociate amnestic state; patients in this state are unconscious, with eyes open, maintain spontaneous respirations, and do not respond to painful or noxious stimuli.
Novel treatment for depression.
Ketamine has been shown to improve mood. Low dose ketamine infusions are now being used as a treatment option in patients with treatment-resistant depression and other mood disorders. Ketamine has been shown to decrease depression symptoms and suicidal ideations within an hour of administration.
How does Ketamine work?
Ketamine produces it’s effects by binding to NMDA, opioid, noradrenergic, cholinergic, nicotinic, and muscarinic receptors. The exact mechanism of action of Ketamine is still not known. Research suggests that Ketamine prevents hyperalgesia and central sensitization that occur in acute pain. Studies about Ketamine as an antidepressant suggest that Ketamine triggers reactions in the brain that causes neuronal regeneration.
What are the Side effects of Ketamine?
Some of the side effects of Ketamine include the following:
- Allergic reactions
- Hallucinations
- Out-of-body experiences
- Tachycardia
- Hypertension
- Increased salivation
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Vivid dreams
Ketamine is controversial.
Ketamine is approved by the FDA as an anesthetic agent. Ketamine is also used as a medication in Pain management. More recently, it is being used to treat depression and other mood disorders. Ketamine is controversial because of the potential for abuse. According to the United States Department of Justice, Ketamine is abused in powder or liquid form, and it is mixed with beverages or added to marijuana or tobacco. It is also abused with other drugs such as 3-4-methylenedioxymethamphethamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy.
In healthcare, Ketamine is used as an anesthetic agent, as a medication in pain management, and recently an agent to treat depression and other mood disorders. Ketamine should always be administered by a qualified healthcare provider trained in the use of Ketamine. When Ketamine is used as indicated, the abuse potential is minimal.
Ketamine Therapy at Lakeview Wellness Clinic.
At Lakeview Wellness Clinic, we offer Ketamine Therapy for depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, suicidal ideations, and chronic pain. All treatments are administered by a board-certified anesthesia provider. If traditional treatments have not worked for you, it may be time to consider Ketamine Therapy at Lakeview Wellness Clinic. Give us a call at 2062746953 or email us at info@thelakeviewclinic.com.
References
Barash, P. G., Cullen, B. F., Stoelting, R. K., Cahalan, M. K., Stock, M. C., Ortega, R., Sharar, S. R., & Holt, N. F. (2017). Clinical anesthesia: Eight edition. Wolters Kluwer.
Butterworth, J. F., Mackey, D. C., & Wasnick, J. D. (2018). Morgan & Mikhail’s Clinical Anesthesiology: Sixth edition. McGraw-Hill Education.
