Ketamine injection

What is this medicine?

Ketamine (KEE ta meen) is an anesthetic. It is used to produce sleep before and during surgery.

How should I use this medicine?

This medicine is for injection into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 16 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• breathing problems

• changes in vision

• fast heartbeat

• hallucination, loss of contact with reality

• signs and symptoms of low blood pressure like dizziness; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired

• uncontrollable head, mouth, neck, arm, or leg movements

• unusually slow heartbeat

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• anxious

• excessive saliva production

• upset stomach

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate

• St. John's Wort

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• alcohol

• antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold

• certain medicines for blood pressure

• certain medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances

• general anesthetics

• medicines that relax muscles for surgery

• memantine

• narcotic medicines for pain

• phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine

• pregabalin

• theophylline; aminophylline

• thyroid hormones

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

Where should I keep my medicine?

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bleeding in the brain

• brain tumor

• dehydration

• head injury

• heart disease

• high blood pressure

• history of stroke

• if you often drink alcohol

• mental illness

• an unusual or allergic reaction to ketamine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.

You may get dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Avoid alcoholic drinks; they can make you more dizzy.