Medical Uses
- Anesthesia: It is primarily FDA-approved as an injectable anesthetic for humans and animals during short surgical or diagnostic procedures.
- Pain Management: Doctors use it “off-label” to treat acute and chronic pain, particularly nerve-related (neuropathic) pain.
- Mental Health:
- Treatment-Resistant Depression: A specific form called esketamine (Spravato) is FDA-approved as a nasal spray for adults who haven’t responded to other antidepressants.
- Off-Label Therapy: Clinics provide intravenous (IV) ketamine infusions for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
- Emergency Medicine: Due to its safety profile regarding respiration, it is often used for trauma patients, burn victims, and in pediatric emergencies.
Recreational Use & Risks
Ketamine is also used illicitly for its hallucinogenic “trippy” effects.
- The “K-Hole”: High doses can lead to an intense state of dissociation where users feel completely detached from reality and unable to move.
- Slang Names: Common street names include Special K, Vitamin K, and Cat Valium.
- Side Effects: Misuse can lead to severe bladder damage (ketamine cystitis), memory loss, high blood pressure, and potential addiction.
- Legal Status: In the United States, it is a Schedule III controlled substance, meaning it has a recognized medical use but a potential for abuse.
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