Ketamine Research Continues To Show Positive Results

Ketamine is a commonly-used anesthetic drug that has been in use for over 65 years. It is known for its ability to produce a range of pharmacological effects, including dissociation, analgesia, sedation, catalepsy, and bronchodilation. However, research has uncovered multiple novel uses for ketamine, including the treatment of depression, chronic pain and substance use disorders.

A recent review of the literature found that ketamine has the potential to be used in the treatment of a range of medical conditions. This includes the treatment of depression, where ketamine has been shown to have rapid-acting antidepressant effects. In addition, ketamine has been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic pain and has potential as a neuroprotective agent.

The use of ketamine for the treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders is also being explored. It has been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol and opioid cravings and has potential as an adjunct to existing treatments for these conditions.

Currently, there are over 800 clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov that are exploring the non-anaesthetic uses of ketamine. This illustrates the ongoing interest in this area of research and the potential for ketamine to be used in the treatment of a range of medical conditions.

Further research is needed to fully understand the safety and efficacy of ketamine for non-anaesthetic purposes. You can find the full research paper “A Review of Nonasthetic Uses of Ketamine” here.