Generic Name: ketamine (KET a meen)
Brand Names: Ketalar
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is an anesthetic medication.
Ketamine is used as a general anesthetic to prevent pain and discomfort during certain medical tests or procedures, or minor surgery.
Ketamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about ketamine?
Before you receive ketamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have a history of alcoholism.
It may take you longer to recover from anesthesia with ketamine if you have recently used a barbiturate such as phenobarbital (Luminal) or secobarbital (Seconal), or a narcotic medication such as fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvocet, Darvon), and others.
Ketamine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive ketamine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
You may feel strange or slightly confused when you first come out of anesthesia. Tell your caregivers if these feelings are severe or unpleasant.
Ketamine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions for 24 hours or longer. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. You will probably not be allowed to drive yourself home after your surgery or medical procedure.
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after you recover from anesthesia.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving ketamine?
Before you receive ketamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have a history of alcoholism.
Ketamine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive ketamine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
How is ketamine given?
Ketamine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein or muscle. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.
Your caregivers will monitor your heart function, blood pressure, and breathing while you are under the effects of ketamine.
You may feel strange or slightly confused when you first come out of anesthesia. Tell your caregivers if these feelings are severe or unpleasant.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since ketamine is usually given for anesthesia, you are not likely to be on a dosing schedule.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of ketamine is unlikely to occur since the medication is given by a doctor. Your vital signs will be closely watched while you are under anesthesia to make sure the medication is not causing any harmful effects.
What should I avoid after receiving ketamine?
Ketamine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions for 24 hours or longer. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. You will probably not be allowed to drive yourself home after your surgery or medical procedure.
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after you recover from anesthesia.
Ketamine side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your caregivers at once if you have any of these serious side effects within 24 hours after you receive ketamine:
severe confusion;
hallucinations;
unusual thoughts; or
extreme fear.
Less serious side effects may include:
dream-like feeling;
double vision;
jerky muscle movements;
dizziness, drowsiness;
nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; or
sleep problems (insomnia).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Ketamine Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Anesthesia:
Parenteral:
Intravenous:
Induction: 1 to 4.5 mg/kg; alternatively, 1 to 2 mg/kg at a rate of 0.5 mg/kg/min may be used. (2 mg/kg dose provides 5 to 10 minutes of surgical anesthesia within 30 seconds following injection).
Maintenance: The maintenance dose should be adjusted according to the patient's anesthetic needs and whether an additional anesthetic is employed. Increments of one-half to the full induction dose may be repeated as needed for maintenance of anesthesia.
Intramuscular:
Induction: 6.5 to 13 mg/kg; (9 to 13 mg/kg dose provides 12 to 25 minutes of surgical anesthesia within 3 to 4 minutes following injection).
Maintenance: The maintenance dose should be adjusted according to the patient's anesthetic needs and whether an additional anesthetic is employed. Increments of one-half to the full induction dose may be repeated as needed for maintenance of anesthesia.
What other drugs will affect ketamine?
Before you receive ketamine, tell your doctor if you have recently used any of the following:
a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); or
narcotic medication such as fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Ionsys), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, Roxicodone), propoxyphene (Darvocet, Darvon), and others.
If you are using any of these drugs, it may take you longer to recover from anesthesia with ketamine.
There may be other drugs that can affect ketamine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More ketamine resources
- Ketamine Side Effects (in more detail)
- Ketamine Dosage
- Ketamine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Ketamine Drug Interactions
- Ketamine Support Group
- 5 Reviews for Ketamine - Add your own review/rating
- Ketamine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Ketalar Prescribing Information (FDA)
Compare ketamine with other medications
- Anesthesia
- Pain
Where can I get more information?
- Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about ketamine.
See also: ketamine side effects (in more detail)
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