Ketamine - An Imperfect Wonder Drug?
Biochemical pharmacology November 1, 2024 Tanner Magruder, Marielle Isenhart, Maximillian V Striepe et al. 8 citations
Ketamine, a sedative and dissociative anesthetic developed in the 1960s as an alternative to phencyclidine (PCP), has been used clinically for over 50 years. It causes fewer severe side effects like hallucinations than PCP, leading to its popularity in emergency medicine and surgeries requiring rapid induction and recovery. Over recent decades, ketamine has been found effective for additional conditions, including acute and chronic pain management and psychiatric disorders such as major depression. It is also a common drug of abuse sought for its hallucinogenic and sedative effects. This review explores ketamine's clinical and non-clinical uses and its impact on patient care.