Ketamine
Trade names: Ketamin, Ketalar
Class: short-acting
anesthetic
Pregnancy: (Category B)
Action: inhibit the action of, the N-methyl d-aspartate
receptor (NMDAR).
Uses:
• Ketamine is frequently described as 'unique drug' because it has hypnotic( sleep producing),
analgesic( pain relieving), and amnesic ( short term memory loss) effects , no
other drug used in clinical practice combines the three important features.
• Ketamine used as a anesthetic, however due to the severe
hallucinations caused by ketamine, there are better anesthetics for victims
with unknown medical history.
• Ketamine can be used in podiatry and other minor surgery, and
occasionally for the treatment of migraine.
• There
is ongoing research into the drug's usefulness in pain therapy, depression
suppression, and for the treatment of alcoholism and heroin addiction.
Dose:
§ by intramuscular injection, short procedures, initially 6.5–13
mg/kg (10 mg/kg usually produces 12–25 minutes of surgical anesthesia).
§ By intravenous injection over at least 60 seconds, short
procedures, initially 1– 4.5 mg/kg (2 mg/kg usually produces 5–10 minutes of
surgical anesthesia).
§ By intravenous infusion of a solution containing 1 mg/mL, longer
procedures, induction, total dose of 0.5–2 mg/kg; maintenance (using micro drip
infusion), 10– 45 micrograms/kg/minute, rate adjusted according to response
Contraindications:
• allergic to any ingredient in Ketamine
•
have a condition in which a
large increase in blood pressure would be harmful Side effects:
ý increased heart rate
ý slurred speech
ý paralyzed feeling
ý nausea
ý unable to move
ý hallucination
ý numbness
ý impaired attention, memory and learning ability
ý delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure,
depression and potentially fatal respiratory problems at higher doses
Symptoms of Ketamine overdose
Ketamine can induce
unconsciousness and failure of the cardiovascular system, leading to death.
There are at least seven Ketamine related deaths known nationally.
Nursing
considerations:
ý if Ketamine is administered rapidly by IV injection it often
causes respiratory depression so it given only under severe precautions.
ý In the majority of people it increase the heart workload
resulting in increase of BP and Pulse so close monitoring of vital signs is
very important.
