ketamine
What is the most important information I should know about ketamine?
Tell your caregivers if you have hallucinations or unusual thoughts while waking up from anesthesia.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is used to put you to sleep for surgery and to prevent pain and discomfort during certain medical tests or procedures.
Ketamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving ketamine?
You should not be treated with ketamine if you are allergic to it, or if you have untreated or uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart disease;
- high blood pressure;
- liver disease;
- alcoholism; or
- if you drink large amounts of alcohol.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Anesthesia may affect brain development in a young child or unborn baby (when used in the mother), leading to learning or behavior problems later in life. Long surgeries or repeated procedures pose the highest risks.
Anesthesia may still be necessary for a life-threatening condition, medical emergency, or surgery to correct a birth defect. Your doctor can give inform you about all medicines given during a surgery or procedure.
Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed shortly after you receive this medicine.
How is ketamine given?
Ketamine is injected into a muscle or a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely.
You may feel strange or confused when you awake from anesthesia. Tell your caregivers if these feelings are severe or unpleasant.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Ketamine is used as a single dose and does not have a daily dosing schedule.
What should I avoid after receiving ketamine?
This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions for several hours. Avoid driving or operating machinery for at least 24 hours after you receive ketamine.
What are the possible side effects of ketamine?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers if you have hallucinations or unusual thoughts while waking up from anesthesia.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- painful or difficult urination, increased urination, loss of bladder control, blood in your urine;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing; or
- jerky muscle movements that may look like convulsions.
Common side effects may include:
- confusion; or
- dream-like feeling.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect ketamine?
It may take you longer to recover from anesthesia if you use other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing. This includes opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.
Other drugs may affect ketamine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about ketamine.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 6/29/2021.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.