What Are Ketamines?
Ketamine is a pharmaceutical drug mostly used for initiating and sustaining anesthesia. It causes sedation, a dissociative anesthetic, and amnesia, giving pain relief (1). Ketamine is sometimes mixed with other drugs such as midazolam and can be used to prevent and relieve adverse reactions to anesthesia. Although ketamine can have severe side effects such as respiratory depression, seizures, coma, respiratory blockage, hallucinations, and aggressive behavior, it has a number of benefits. It is frequently prescribed for patients with certain disorders or who have chronic pain.
Ketamine, is also know as a no-prescription medication that acts similar to ecstasy, has become popular over the past few years. This is mainly due to its use by emergency room doctors and emergency medical technicians to quickly relieve patients of severe, life-threatening conditions (1a). It is also known to be an anesthetic for minors and is available without a prescription in pharmacies. As it is a medication that is smoked, there are certain side effects of using it. These side effects are listed below.
Ketamine abuse is characterized by excessive drug use, frequent parties, injecting at-home or in public, lying to friends and family, taking large amounts of alcohol, and using the drug to get high. Ketamine use can be risky, especially if you’re not familiar with the side effects. Side effects of ketamine can range from high fever to seizures and even death. Some other minor side effects include headache, runny nose, itching or watering of the eyes, dry mouth, increased heart rate, anxiety, agitation, diarrhea, dizziness, constipation, impaired vision, and chest pain. Ketamine abuse is often associated with a number of serious health risks including infection, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and coma (1c).
Some Known Side Effects
Depression, anxiety, psychosis, mania, and hallucinations are some of the more serious side effects associated with ketamine use (2). While ketamine infusions are being used less due to negative side effects, there are still some precautions that should be taken when using this recreational drug. Anyone who has experienced the effects of ketamine should seek medical attention immediately. Before considering ketamine injections, medical consultation should be sought for any other conditions, diseases, or medications.
Although ketamine has been shown to be safe when administered under proper medical supervision, some side effects may cause long-term effects. Some individuals experience euphoria, anxiety, and depression when taking these drugs. People who take them long-term may have problems sleeping, and their hallucinations can affect their judgment. These feelings generally go away once the person begins to get used to their new found feeling of well-being. However, because of the long-term effects of ketamine, individuals should work closely with their primary care physicians and a psychologist to monitor their mental health. As the body adjusts to the effects of the drug, long-term safety should be the main concern.
Some Other Known Side Effects of Using Ketamine
Although rare, ketamine can cause respiratory depression in some patients. This is a condition wherein a patient’s breathing becomes too shallow or rapid for him or her to take in enough oxygen. Respiratory depression is a common side effect of taking this drug and can often result in death if not treated in time. If your loved one suddenly begins to have trouble breathing or seems to be having difficulty, seek help from a medical professional as soon as possible (2a).
Common Short-term Effects of Ketamine
The most common and short-term effects of Ketamine are vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation (2c). While the short-term effects of Ketamine are considered minor compared to other strong drugs like Heroin, it is still considered a controlled substance, and patients that use Ketamine must abide by all local and federal laws. People that are undergoing long-term treatments with Ketamine should be monitored frequently by doctors and should report any and all changes in their feeling. Patients that exhibit signs of severe depression should be closely observed for depression-related symptoms (3).
Short-term memory loss is one of the more dangerous and serious side effects that can happen if you abuse Ketamine (3a). Ketamine causes the same short-term memory loss that people experience when taking certain prescription pain killers such as Codeine, Percocet, and Demerol. The problem with Ketamine and codeine is that while they do not cause death or long-term health problems, they are very addicting. This is because ketamine allows a person to get high quickly and easily without a need to rest or relaxation. Because of this, people who are taking ketamine on a regular basis should consult their doctor about their long-term usage, as using this drug could potentially cause severe health problems.
Long-term Effects of Using Ketamine
The long-term effects of Ketamine use are still being studied. Some experts feel that long-term side effects were completely avoided by regulating the amount of ketamine used during the therapy sessions (3b). This is to prevent the patient from abusing the drug. With some research findings, this could have possibly prevented several deaths that would have otherwise occurred due to excessive use of the drug. Even though no long-term effects of Ketamine have been noticed thus far, long-term treatment of this drug will still need to be researched in order to know its complete effects on the body (4).
Many people have been using ketamine for long periods of time without any negative effects being noted. Many also reported no effects at all (4a). However, since the effects of Ketamine only last for fifteen minutes to two hours, a higher dosage may be required to achieve the desired results. The maximum dosage of ketamine that can be administered to a human body is 400 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Ketamine is highly addictive and very dangerous to consume as well. Therefore, the amount to be administered should not exceed the recommended maximum dosage of one gram per kilogram of body weight (5).
Withdrawal Symptoms of Using Ketamine
There are several withdrawal symptoms that may occur when taking this drug. The most common include anxiety, shaking, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, agitation, insomnia, flu-like symptoms, and cold chills (5a). Ketamine itself has no known long-term effects on the body, however, some harmful, long-term effects of this drug have been discovered. Long-term effects that some users are noticing include circulatory collapse, abnormal heart rhythms, convulsions, and coma. These effects of ketamine are only temporary and are generally reversible.
Ketamine Usage
Administration or How Ketamine is Taken.
Ketamine is usually injected or snuffed, but can also be smoked or ingested orally. Although the effects of ketamine tend to be weaker than that of directly injectable it, in some rare cases, it may be used as a date rape drug. If you have been prescribed or considering taking any of these drugs and suspect that you may be at risk for an overdose, contact your local emergency department immediately.
Ketamines are commonly used as a source of relief from pain because of how effective they are at reducing pain (6). They are effective in the reduction of pain, but the use of ketamine for long periods of time could potentially lead to an addiction. Because of how addictive these drugs are. Those who use them on a regular basis may find it very difficult to stop using them on their own. Long-term use of ketamine could lead to serious problems.
Another reason why individuals turn to ketamine-based drugs for chronic pain is because these drugs are readily available and don’t require a prescription. This allows people to buy the drug whenever they need it. Because of how easy to obtain and use these drugs, ketamine use can easily lead to addiction. Those who become dependent on the drug may not be able to stop taking it on their own, and will often require outside help in order to break their habit. If an individual does not receive adequate support, they could have serious mental health issues (7).
There is one type of ketamine that acts in a different way than other drugs in which it acts in the brain’s NMDA receptor. When the NMDA is activated, the brain produces a chemical known as glutamate, which is responsible for the feeling of pleasure associated with consuming glutamate. However, when the NMDA is accidentally blocked, ketamines act in much the same manner.
Ketamine as a Dissociative Anesthetics and its Uses.
Dissociative Anesthesia is defined as an altered state of consciousness induced through drugs or alcohol, or other substances (neuroleptics). Duly called a trance, it can be extremely beneficial in helping patients overcome certain challenges such as phobias, compulsive disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorders. However, in this article I will cover the history and uses of Dissociative Anesthesia, and how and why it is used to treat certain mental conditions. Please keep in mind that the information here is not intended to medically diagnose or treat any condition, but to offer a general knowledge on the subject (7a).
Anesthesia can be divided into two categories, namely central and peripheral. Central Anesthesia simply impairs consciousness; the patient cannot feel anything at any given time. This is caused by a blockage in the nerves. Peripheral Anesthesia involves the presence of an unconscious mind or sub-conscious. While these two types of anesthesia have different effects, they are both used for the same treatment.
Ketamine is commonly administered in clinical trials for treating patients with depression and anxiety. The primary feature of ketamine is its ability to reduce the effects of anxiety and depression while increasing the amelioration of moods. A secondary, yet crucial, role of ketamine is to relieve the physical and psychological effects of seizures and schizophrenia (7b).
Other Commonly Administered Dissociative Anesthetic Agents
Commonly administered dissociative anesthetic agents are PCP (preparations of sodium chloride) and DXM (commonly known as cough syrup). PCP is a white crystalline powder that is dissolved in a glass of water. It is administered by a trained nurse or paramedic, usually with the assistance of another person during the administration process. DXM is a warm salt solution that is dissolved in the same solution (7c).
Both agents cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Although the effects of ketamine can reduce the cardiovascular effects of stress, it has been shown to increase blood pressure when it is administered alone. When combined with other medications, however, ketamine can lead to the development of a new medical condition known as orthostatic hypotension.
The common street name for dissociative anesthetic drugs is ‘ketamine’. These drugs were first manufactured as a legal pharmaceutical drug under the trade name of ‘MPH’ (mono-phenylenediamine). It was not until sometime in 1996 when this drug was put on the list of Schedule II drugs that the medical community recognized the true dangers associated with its use. Because of this, the FDA began to ban the use of the term ‘ketamine’ and redesignate it as ‘Ketamine’ or ‘Dissociative Anesthesia’ to replace the illegal street names.
There are several different ways that dissociative anesthetic drugs can affect an individual. Generally, it is thought that ketamine produces a type of amnesia where the patient does not remember anything that happens to them while under anesthesia. This amnesia, however, can vary significantly from patient to patient. Some patients report never having any memory of the time that they spent in the hospital receiving anesthesia.
Ketamine for Anxiety, Depression, High Blood Pressure, and Psychiatric Disorders.
Ketamine, an anesthetic agent, has been used in hospitals for decades to treat severe pain, migraine headaches, chronic pain, anxiety, and even some mild traumatic brain injury victims (8). It is also widely known under the names anesthesia and tranquility. Recently, however, Ketamine has gained notoriety as a potential treatment for treating anxiety disorders. For many, this new breakthrough treatment represents an incredible opportunity to better manage their painful mental health issues. In an article published in the June 6th edition of the New York Times Magazine, Dr. William Pelham of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and professor at the University of Buffalo stated:
“This drug allows us to take care of patients who cannot achieve any type of relief from their symptoms by other means. By blocking the action of glutamate at the synapse, ketamine can mimic the calming effect that patients get from psychotherapy. When given at the onset of a seizure, it can reduce the intensity of the episode.”
New Medical Solutions With Ketamine.
Ketamine is already being used off-label to treat patients suffering with Parkinson’s disease, depression, and general anxiety disorders (8a). But the real reason to consider this relatively new medical solution is that ketamine mimics some aspects of the brain’s natural antidepressant, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). People suffering from depression or chronic pain are often unaware that the key to relieving these symptoms is to increase the levels of GABA in the brain. In fact, GABA is an important neurotransmitter in the human brain responsible for regulating both our moods and the strength of our muscles. Because GABA is so vital to our well-being, it makes sense that increasing its level in the brain would provide a tremendous amount of relief from symptoms like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia (9).
So why is ketamine being used for treating depression?
The two major reasons are that ketamine acts at the synapse, and it also acts at the neuromuscular level to modulate GABA levels. Because it closely mimics glutamate, which is found at the synapse, ketamine has been shown in clinical trials to reduce both the frequency and the severity of epileptic seizures in patients who suffer from epilepsy. And because it can be administered in such great amounts, ketamine has also been used off-label to treat other conditions, including sleep apnea, chemotherapy, and even multiple sclerosis (10).
Ketamine’s Solution to High Blood Pressure
Like many drugs that act on the glutamate system, ketamine is often used in the treatment of patients with high blood pressure. It was first used in patients who had excessive fluid retention due to congestive heart failure, and doctors were thrilled with the results. The high blood pressure patients’ kidneys showed a significant reduction in glutamic acid accumulation when ketamine was added to the treatment regime, and researchers were able to conclude that the addition of ketamine was very successful in reducing blood pressure. A recent study even suggested that it might even be used as an alternative therapy for patients diagnosed with hypertension due to lack of activity in the sympathetic nervous system.
In fact, one of the most common questions asked is how to lower blood pressure with ketamine; fortunately, it does not require any medication to be taken and is usually given intravenously. The infusion is done under medical supervision and there is usually no more than a few injections required per day.
Ketamine for Psychiatric Disorders.
Ketamine is also being studied for use in psychiatric disorders. One such disorder is major depression; in fact, the most recent study into its effect on major depression found that it was just as effective at treating the disease as tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), sertraline (Zoloft), and fluoxetine (Prozac). One of the biggest reasons why ketamine is ideal for use in conjunction with other psychotropic drugs is that it produces minimal side effects, if any, in patients taking it.
Some people ask what the possible adverse effects are of ketamine for some types of disorders, and the simple answer is none. Ketamine has been used very successfully for years in the treatment of depression, dementia, and other disorders of the central nervous system; there are no known side effects at all in this regard. The one thing that might be of concern is if you suffer from kidney disease or if your heart rhythm is irregular, but ketamine has no serious side effects when these problems are addressed by your doctor.
Another group of patients that ketamine treatment could be particularly beneficial is that of patients suffering from anxiety disorders. Research into ketamine’s effect on anxiety disorders, however, has been largely in the area of teaching health care professionals about the benefits it provides for patients with chronic, severe, disabling anxiety disorders. If your doctor diagnoses you as having one of these conditions, he may recommend that you seek out the use of ketamine for your condition rather than taking a more traditional drug for it. Whatever the case, ketamine is certainly worth looking into if your psychiatrist considers it appropriate for your needs.
While the recreational use of ketamine has been established, there are also some serious side effects associated with their use. The most common side effect is a rapid increase in blood pressure. This can be a dangerous side effect if the individual who uses ketamine becomes dehydrated. If this occurs, the individual may become unconscious and be unable to breathe properly. Ketamines are very powerful medications and should be used with extreme care.
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