Ketamine is primarily used as a general anesthetic for surgery, especially in trauma, emergency, and pediatric cases. It induces a dissociative anesthesia state, providing pain relief, sedation, and amnesia while preserving breathing and airway reflexes. Additionally, ketamine is used at lower doses for pain management, particularly in acute and chronic pain situations. It is also employed as an off-label treatment for depression, especially treatment- resistant depression, with certain forms like esketamine approved for such use. Ketamine has recreational use due to its hallucinogenic effects but is tightly controlled medically due to risks and side effects.
Medical Uses of Ketamine:
- General anesthetic for surgical and diagnostic procedures.
- Short-term sedation in emergency settings.
- Pain treatment at sub-anesthetic doses, including acute trauma, surgical pain, and chronic neuropathic pain.
- Treatment-resistant depression (off-label).
- Anesthesia in people with respiratory issues like asthma due to bronchodilating effects.
Additional Information:
- Ketamine causes dissociative anesthesia: a trance-like state with pain relief and sedation.
- It is usually administered by injection (intravenous or intramuscular).
- Esketamine, a form of ketamine, is FDA-approved as a nasal spray for certain types of depression.
- Recreational use is common but risky, with potential for hallucinations, dependency, and toxicity.
These uses show ketamine's versatility in medicine, but it requires careful medical supervision due to its psychoactive properties and potential side effects.
