Common Street Drugs: Ketamine

First Things First (assess & treat for the following)

  • Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that is a shorter-acting & less potent alternative to structurally related PCP.
  • Has become a drug of abuse for its hypnotic & mood-altering properties
  • High doses may result in respiratory depression.
    • Maintain airway patency; support w/ oxygenation & ventilation if necessary.
    • Rapid sequence intubation if hypoxic or severe respiratory depression
  • Tachycardia & severe HTN may occur (usually most severe in pts taking thyroid replacement therapy).

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Last updated: April 15, 2010