Ketamine (Ketalar, Vetalar, Ketaset) by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Use and abuse of ketamine

Ketamine is an anesthetic most commonly used on animals but also used in humans. Ketamine is an anaesthetic that is available only to physicians and is a scheduled drug. The liquid form of ketamine is injected either IV or IM.

Ketamine and depression
Ketamine causes feelings of detachment and relaxation. It helps restores to normal the orbifrontal cortex, an area of the brain located above the eyes that is overactive in depressed people. The orbifrontal cortex is believed to be responsible for feelings of guilt, dread, apprehension and physical reactions such as a racing heart. It may also be an area that holds grudges. Some ketamine reseachers think that this drug could be useful to treat depression. For natural ways to treat this mood disorder, see depression.
 

Ketamine Abuse
Ketamine has become popular among teens and young adults at dance clubs and raves.

Ketamine and Altered State of Consciousness

Ketamine is also used by certain individuals as a way to relax and heal old wounds and find answers to one's life uncertainties. The dose of ketamine used for this manner is usually a tenth or less of the dose used for anesthesia.

Ketamine and Near Death Experience
Ketamine HCL, when injected IM or IV, is able to induce a near death experience. Since high levels of ketamine can cause complete anesthesia, the dose required to have an experience is a tenth smaller than what is given by veterinarians and physicians.

Ketamine for Depression
A single dose of the anesthetic ketamine appears to reduce depression in patients who show little improvement with standard medications, new research suggests. The beneficial effects start less than 2 hours after the drug is given and last for about 7 days, according to results of a study conducted by investigators at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The researchers decided to look at ketamine as a treatment because it blocks an enzyme system that seems to play a key role in depression. Their study group included 17 patients with severe depression that failed to respond to at least two trials of antidepressants. They were required to have a score of at least 18 on a standard depression test called the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). In the trial, the participants received an intravenous infusion of ketamine or inactive "placebo," then switched to an infusion of the other agent 1 week later. Patients treated with ketamine scored significantly lower on the HDRS at 110 minutes, lasting through 7 days, compared with those receiving placebo treatment. The HDRS at day 1 fell by up to 90 percent, indicating a substantial improvement in depression. Seventy-one percent of patients were classified as treatment responders and 29 percent had little or no evidence of depression on day 1 after the ketamine dose. The treatment response was maintained for at least 1 week by 35 percent of patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, August 2006.