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A REVIEW OF KETAMINE ABUSE AND DIVERSION.
Sean Sassano-Higgins1,2, Dave Baron1,2, Grace Juarez1,2
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Depression and Anxiety
|June 23, 2016
Summary
Ketamine, initially for anesthesia, is now used for depression and pain. However, chronic use carries risks including cognitive impairment, urinary tract issues, and liver damage, necessitating specialized testing and abstinence for treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Ketamine, developed in the 1960s and approved in 1970, serves as an anesthetic and analgesic.
- Its therapeutic applications have expanded to include pain management, asthma, and depression treatment.
- Clinical use can induce dissociation and emergence delirium, contributing to recreational abuse and associated risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the diverse clinical applications of ketamine.
- To elucidate the adverse effects associated with both clinical and recreational ketamine use.
- To highlight the potential long-term morbidities and treatment considerations for chronic ketamine users.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of ketamine's pharmacological effects and clinical applications.
- Analysis of reported adverse events and toxicities from ketamine exposure.
- Examination of diagnostic challenges and treatment strategies for ketamine-related harm.
Main Results:
- Ketamine exhibits analgesic and sedative properties, with emerging uses in mental health and pain management.
- Adverse effects include dissociation, delirium, and risks of environmental harm and nonconsensual sexual activity.
- Chronic use is linked to cognitive deficits, psychological disturbances, and significant gastrointestinal and hepatic pathologies, including cystitis and bile duct abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Ketamine's therapeutic benefits are contrasted by substantial risks, particularly with chronic or recreational use.
- Long-term ketamine exposure can lead to severe organ damage and persistent psychological issues.
- Abstinence is the primary treatment, often requiring specialized drug testing due to limitations in standard screening panels.