Ketalar

Ketamine.svg

Ketalar is a brand name for ketamine, a medication primarily used for starting and maintaining anesthesia. It induces a trance-like state while providing pain relief, sedation, and memory loss. Other uses include for chronic pain and for sedation in intensive care.

Medical uses

Ketalar is used in both human and veterinary medicine. In humans, it is frequently employed in procedures that do not require muscle relaxation, preferred for patients at risk of bronchospasm and respiratory depression. It is also a critical therapy in emergency settings, particularly in cases of trauma, and is used in the management of severe pain in burn therapy.

Pharmacology

Ketalar acts mainly as an NMDA receptor antagonist, but it also has some interaction with the opioid receptors and sigma receptors. This makes it a versatile drug in the field of anesthesia due to its rapid onset of effects and short duration of action. Its hallucinogenic effects are due to its dissociative properties.

Side effects

Common side effects include psychological reactions as the medication wears off, such as agitation, confusion, or hallucinations. Physical side effects may include elevated blood pressure and heart rate, nausea, and vomiting. Long-term use can lead to cognitive impairments and potential addiction.

History

Ketalar was first synthesized in 1962 by Calvin Stevens at Parke-Davis Laboratories. It was approved for use in the United States in 1970 and has since been included in the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

Society and culture

Legal status varies by country, with some having listed it under controlled substances due to its potential for abuse. Despite this, it remains a valuable drug in medical practice, particularly in low-resource settings, due to its safety profile and broad utility.