Ketamine: friend or foe?

Ketamine, a dissociative anaesthetic drug, acts on the central nervous system (CNS) primarily through antagonism of the n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor.1 Methods of administration include intravenous, intramuscular, snorting and smoking.2 Intranasal use, which has a very rapid onset of action, is common among recreational users.3 Ketamine may be used as an antidepressant and for recovery from drug abuse.1 Doses used in abuse are significantly higher than for therapy.3 For recreational use, the usual intranasal dose is 50 mg with abusers regularly using multiple doses to prolong intoxication.2 3 Ketamine’s potential as a recreational drug may have hindered its usefulness in addiction rehabilitation. Studies suggest that ketamine has to be taken chronically in high doses to develop complications. The risks of using ketamine as treatment in appropriately selected patients is small, but repeated administration might be associated...
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Grand rounds commentary Source Type: research