User:Mr. Ibrahem/Ketamine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ketamine is a medication mainly used for starting and maintaining anesthesia.[20] It induces a trance-like state while providing pain relief, sedation, and memory loss.[21] Other uses include sedation in intensive care and treatment of pain and depression.[22][23][14][24][25] Heart function, breathing, and airway reflexes generally remain functional.[21] Effects typically begin within five minutes when given by injection, and last up to approximately 25 minutes.[20][26]
Common side effects include agitation, confusion, or hallucinations as the medication wears off.[20][27][28] Elevated blood pressure and muscle tremors are relatively common.[20][28] Spasms of the larynx may rarely occur.[20] Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist, but it may also have other actions.[29]
Ketamine was discovered in 1962, first tested in humans in 1964, and approved for use in the United States in 1970.[26][30] It was extensively used for surgical anesthesia in the Vietnam War due to its safety.[30] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[31] It is available as a generic medication.[20] The wholesale price in the developing world is between US$0.84 and US$3.22 per vial.[32] Ketamine is also used as a recreational drug for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects.[33]