Safety considerations and risk mitigation strategies for ketamine use: a comprehensive review.
Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) – May 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable evolution from operating room anesthetic to breakthrough depression treatment represents one of medicine's most versatile tools. When administered properly, it offers rapid relief for both chronic pain and severe depression, often working within hours where other treatments fail. Careful safety protocols and monitoring ensure optimal outcomes while minimizing risks.
Abstract
Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has gained widespread use in various medical contexts, including anesthesia, pain management, and treatment-resistant depression. Despite its therapeutic potential, concerns regarding its safety profile have prompted ongoing research and regulatory guidance. This comprehensive literature review explores the current safety considerations of ketamine, summarizing its adverse effects, particularly on cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, and dependency effects. Evidence-based guidelines for its administration, dosing, and monitoring are discussed, emphasizing the importance of risk-benefit assessments in clinical practice. The review also delves into current guidelines and proposes future directions for ketamine research and clinical implementation, including enhanced safety protocols, long-term patient outcomes, and the development of individualized safe dosing protocols.