Details

Ketamine is an anaesthetic medication. Ketamine is used to put you to sleep for surgery and to prevent pain and discomfort during certain medical tests or procedures. To make sure ketamine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have heart disease high blood pressure a history of alcoholism or if you recently drank large amounts of alcohol. Ketamine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive ketamine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

Typical Uses

Ketamine is a hydrochloride salt, used as an anaesthetic. It works in the brain to inhibit painful sensations.

Side Effects

Common side effects of ketamine include a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing pain or burning when you urinate or jerky muscle movements that may look like convulsions.

Drug Interactions

• Ketamine+propoxyphene- Using propoxyphene together with ketamine may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should take propoxyphene exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take larger doses or use the drug more frequently than prescribed. Misuse of propoxyphene can lead to serious side effects including death.
• Ketamine+isocarboxazid- Before getting anaesthesia with ketamine, tell your doctor if you are taking isocarboxazid. Using these medications together may significantly affect your blood pressure. In some cases, your doctor may want you to stop taking isocarboxazid for 10 to 14 days before you undergo surgery.
• Ketamine+selegiline- Before getting anaesthesia with ketamine, tell your doctor if you are taking selegiline. Using these medications together may significantly affect your blood pressure. In some cases, your doctor may want you to stop taking selegiline for 10 to 14 days before you undergo surgery.
• Ketamine+tranylcypromine- Before getting anaesthesia with ketamine, tell your doctor if you are taking tranylcypromine. Using these medications together may significantly affect your blood pressure. In some cases, your doctor may want you to stop taking tranylcypromine for 10 to 14 days before you undergo surgery.

Mechanism of action

Ketamine belongs to class of medications known as general anaesthetics. It acts on the nervous system and induces sedation or sleep, immobility and marked analgesia.

Pregnancy Category : B