Ketamine is used primarily as an anesthetic in human beings and in animals. The ketamine medical detoxification has been shown to be effective in patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), a debilitating chronic pain syndrome. It has also been used in the treatment of acute pain, addiction and experimentally to treat depression. It is sometimes used for recreational purposes. It is known by the nicknames, ‘K’, ‘Ket’, ‘Special K’, ‘Vitamin K’, ‘Pony dust’ and others.

Penalties For Possession

In terms of its legal status, it is a Class C drug meaning that it carries lenient penalties for personal possession but it attracts a custodial sentence when found in possession for onward distribution. A few years ago, most of the drug used recreationally came from Mexico. Today, they come mostly from India.

Helpful Uses

The main use of the drug is in anesthetics. It suppresses breathing considerably less than other anesthetics and is often used in children and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. It is also used in emergency medicine on the battlefield, on occasions when the patient’s fluid status is unknown (at the scene of a road traffic accident, for example) and for patients who have suffered a severe trauma and who are trapped.

CRPS/RSD

CRPS/RSD is a severe, chronic, progressive pain condition. It has autonomic, sensory, dystrophic and motor components (the term, ‘dystrophy’ refers to the degeneration of muscle tissue). The pain is continuous and worsens with time. It may be accompanied by swelling and changes to the skin. It may start in an arm or a leg and and spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment Techniques

There are two recognized approaches to the use of ketamine in RSD/CRPS. One technique involves placing the subject into a medically-induced coma and giving them a large dose of the drug. This modality has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration but is widely used in Germany and in parts of Mexico. The other approach is to give a low dose by slow infusion over a period of a few days. This can be done in a hospital or an outpatient clinic. There is also drug counseling.

Studies

Ketamine has been used successfully in patients with refractory depression. This effect was first noticed when patients being treated for RSD/CRPS reported lower levels of the depression associated with their condition. Because the primary outcome measure in that study was a change in the severity of pain, the improvement in depression was not documented.

Successful Uses

Doctors in Russia have reported promising results using ketamine to treat both heroin addiction and alcoholism. Sixty out of eighty-six alcoholic males remained abstinent for one year using a combination of ‘K’ and psychotherapy. Similar results were achieved with heroin addicts.