Safety Information for ketaminE treatment

Ketamine is a synthetic pharmaceutical compound, classified as a dissociative anesthetic. It is one of the most widely used drugs in modern medicine and is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. It was developed in 1962, FDA approved in 1970 and adopted by many hospitals and medical offices because of its rapid onset, proven safety, and short duration of action. Ketamine is classified as a Schedule III drug by FDA and is legal at the state and federal level.

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In the last two decades, ketamine has been increasingly used off-label to treat various chronic and treatment-resistant mental health conditions, such as depression, alcoholism, substance dependencies, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, and other psychiatric diagnoses.
In addition, several ongoing FDA approved clinical trials are demonstrating promising results for mental health conditions related to the therapeutic use of ketamine, or similar substances. Given that ketamine has is not specifically FDA approved for the treatment of depression or anxiety, ketamine therapy is considered an experimental treatment at this time.

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Potential side effects of ketamine therapy encompass various symptoms, such as a distorted sense of time, heightened anxiety, blurred vision, reduced sensory perception, dry mouth, increased blood pressure or heart rate, elevated intraocular or intracranial pressure, heightened excitability, decreased appetite, mental confusion, nausea, vomiting, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), restlessness, slurred speech, and synesthesia (a blending of sensory experiences).

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Do not proceed with ketamine treatment if any of the following conditions apply to you:

・Allergic to ketamine

・Experiencing symptoms of psychosis or mania

・Uncontrolled high blood pressure

・Congestive heart failure (CHF) or another severe cardiac condition

・Severe respiratory issues

・Elevated intraocular or intracranial pressure

・Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism

・Suffering from other serious medical illnesses

・Pregnant, nursing, or actively attempting to become pregnant

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Ketamine has been associated with certain issues, as listed below. However, long-lasting adverse effects are infrequent when adhering to rigorous medical protocols.

Although ketamine is not typically physically addictive, it has been known to lead to moderate psychological dependency in some recreational users.

In rare cases, frequent and heavy users have reported increased frequency of urination, urinary incontinence, painful urination, hematuria (blood in the urine), or a reduction in bladder capacity.

Ketamine may exacerbate conditions in individuals with schizophrenia, severe personality disorders, or other serious mental disorders. Those with a personal or family history of psychosis should exercise caution when using any psychoactive substance, including ketamine, and should consult with their Isha Health clinician to assess potential risks before proceeding with treatment.

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The dissociative effects of ketamine can heighten patient vulnerability and the risk of accidents. To ensure positive outcomes and maintain safety, adhere to these ketamine treatment guidelines:

・Avoid operating a vehicle (e.g., car, motorcycle, bicycle) or heavy machinery until you've had a full night's sleep following treatment.

・Abstain from taking benzodiazepines or stimulants for 24 hours prior to treatment.

・Continue taking prescribed antihypertensive medication as directed.

・Refrain from consuming alcohol for 24 hours prior to and after treatment

・Avoid solid foods for at least 4 hours before treatment and liquids for at least 2 hours before treatment.

・Ketamine treatment should never be conducted without a monitor present to ensure your safety.

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