Ketamine, also known as Ketamine Hydrochloride, is an anesthetic drug that works by inhibiting the brain to feel painful sensations. It is used for “inducing anesthesia… before surgery or certain procedures that do not require skeletal muscle relaxation” (Drugs.com). Ketamine can be injected and can be found as an intravenous solution, or in powder form. The powder form of ketamine is ingested by snorting in the club scene. One dosage can cause drowsiness for a maximum of 24 hours. It is known to have caused behavior and mental anomalies, mood swings, confusion, and hallucinations. Other side effects include loss of appetite, nausea, aggressive behavior, delirium, amnesia, vomiting, and more. It used to be the predominant drug used as anesthetic but people easily abuse ketamine. It is now more widely used in veterinary practice. It is sometimes used as an anti-depressant. The anti-depressant effects last for about a week, then wears off. However, its repeated use or injection has yet to be proven safe or effective (Insel, 2014). Ketamine warps the consumer’s senses and judgments, making it perfect for immobilizing aggressive animals. In Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone, the drug is used to sedate apes who have been infected with the Ebola virus. With those animals, however, two doses of ketamine are required to sedate them. One dose alone is enough to make humans addicted to the drug. Ketamine Injection - FDA prescribing information, side effects and uses. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2015, from http://www.drugs.com/pro/ketamine-injection.html Insel, T. (2014, October 30). Director's Blog: Ketamine. Retrieved June 10, 2015, from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2014/ketamine.shtml Preston, R. (1994). The hot zone. New York: Random House.
As Hanna said, an alternative use of Ketamine as of recently has been as a drug for treating depression. More facilities are starting to use Ketamine as a way to treat patients with suicidal tendencies. Although Ketamine is not FDA approved some physicians use it as a way to curb suicidal thoughts. Some, like Dr. Kyle Lapidus, are giving their patients regulated therapeutic doses. Ketamine is favorable in contrast to Zoloft and Effexor because it begins working very quickly, within an hour. Ketamine is not FDA approved, however these doctors have the freedom to go “off-label” when treating patients in private practice as long as all risk is assumed. McMillen, M. (2014, September 23). Ketamine: The Future of Depression Treatment? Retrieved June 12, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20140923/ketamine-depression
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ReplyDeleteKetamine, also known as Ketamine Hydrochloride, is an anesthetic drug that works by inhibiting the brain to feel painful sensations. It is used for “inducing anesthesia… before surgery or certain procedures that do not require skeletal muscle relaxation” (Drugs.com). Ketamine can be injected and can be found as an intravenous solution, or in powder form. The powder form of ketamine is ingested by snorting in the club scene. One dosage can cause drowsiness for a maximum of 24 hours. It is known to have caused behavior and mental anomalies, mood swings, confusion, and hallucinations. Other side effects include loss of appetite, nausea, aggressive behavior, delirium, amnesia, vomiting, and more. It used to be the predominant drug used as anesthetic but people easily abuse ketamine. It is now more widely used in veterinary practice. It is sometimes used as an anti-depressant. The anti-depressant effects last for about a week, then wears off. However, its repeated use or injection has yet to be proven safe or effective (Insel, 2014). Ketamine warps the consumer’s senses and judgments, making it perfect for immobilizing aggressive animals. In Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone, the drug is used to sedate apes who have been infected with the Ebola virus. With those animals, however, two doses of ketamine are required to sedate them. One dose alone is enough to make humans addicted to the drug.
ReplyDeleteKetamine Injection - FDA prescribing information, side effects and uses. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2015, from http://www.drugs.com/pro/ketamine-injection.html
Insel, T. (2014, October 30). Director's Blog: Ketamine. Retrieved June 10, 2015, from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2014/ketamine.shtml
Preston, R. (1994). The hot zone. New York: Random House.
As Hanna said, an alternative use of Ketamine as of recently has been as a drug for treating depression. More facilities are starting to use Ketamine as a way to treat patients with suicidal tendencies. Although Ketamine is not FDA approved some physicians use it as a way to curb suicidal thoughts. Some, like Dr. Kyle Lapidus, are giving their patients regulated therapeutic doses. Ketamine is favorable in contrast to Zoloft and Effexor because it begins working very quickly, within an hour. Ketamine is not FDA approved, however these doctors have the freedom to go “off-label” when treating patients in private practice as long as all risk is assumed.
ReplyDeleteMcMillen, M. (2014, September 23). Ketamine: The Future of Depression Treatment? Retrieved June 12, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20140923/ketamine-depression