Ketamine is used primarily as an anesthetic in human beings and in animals. The ketamine 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

Legally speaking, ‘K’ is a Class C Drug. This means it carries the least severe penalties for possession for personal use. In 2003, the United States, more than 80 per cent of seizures for this drug have been found to originate in Mexico. Most of the drug used recreationally today comes from India.

Helpful Uses

The main use of ‘K’ is in anesthesia. It may be used as the sole anesthetic in children. Because it suppresses breathing significantly less than other anesthetics, it is useful in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is used in emergency medicine for trapped patients suffering from trauma, on the battlefield and in cases where the patient’s fluid status cannot be accurately assessed (for example, at the scene of a traffic accident).

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 different treatment modalities for the use of ‘K’ in CRPS/RSD. The ‘awake’ method involves delivering low dose as slow infusion over a few days, either in an inpatient or in an outpatient facility. With the other technique, patients are placed into a medically-controlled coma and given a large, single dose of drug. This approach has not yet been approved for use in the United States but is widely used in Germany and is practiced in Mexico. There is also group 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

Physicians in Russia have successfully used ketamine for the treatment of alcoholism and heroin addiction. Seventy per cent of male adult alcoholics stayed abstinent for one year using a combination of psychotherapy and Special K. A similar outcome was reported in treating people who were addicted to heroin.

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