Ketamine Overdose and Treatment
What is a Ketamine Overdose
Ketamine is a medication that is primarily used as an anesthetic for animals and humans. It is also used off-label as a rapid-acting antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression. It is a dissociative anesthetic, which means it can produce a feeling of detachment from the environment and oneself. It also has pain-relieving and sedative effects. It is typically administered as an injection or nasal spray. The use of ketamine as an antidepressant is still considered experimental and more research is needed to fully understand its effects and potential risks.
What is the presentation of a Ketamine Overdose.
A paramedic’s primary goal in treating a ketamine overdose is to support the patient’s vital functions and manage any symptoms that may arise. Here are some steps a paramedic may take in treating a ketamine overdose:
- Assessing the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) to ensure that the patient is stable and able to breathe.
- Administering oxygen to help with breathing and providing support for any airway or breathing difficulties.
- Monitoring the patient’s vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, to ensure they remain stable.
- Administering medications to control seizures or lower blood pressure, if needed.
- Providing supportive care for symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and disorientation.
- Administering Naloxone (Narcan) if the patient has taken ketamine in combination with opioids.
- Transporting the patient to the nearest hospital for further treatment and monitoring.
It’s important to note that Ketamine overdose is a rare event and most cases treated with supportive care. Treatments such as induction of anesthesia or intubation are not typically needed.
It’s also important to remember that overdose can be prevented by avoiding recreational use of ketamine and using it only under medical supervision.
How factors to treating a Ketamine Overdose
A paramedic’s primary goal in treating a ketamine overdose is to support the patient’s vital functions and manage any symptoms that may arise. Here are some steps a paramedic may take in treating a ketamine overdose:
- Assessing the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) to ensure that the patient is stable and able to breathe.
- Administering oxygen to help with breathing and providing support for any airway or breathing difficulties.
- Monitoring the patient’s vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, to ensure they remain stable.
- Administering medications to control seizures or lower blood pressure, if needed.
- Providing supportive care for symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and disorientation.
- Administering Naloxone (Narcan) if the patient has taken ketamine in combination with opioids.
- Transporting the patient to the nearest hospital for further treatment and monitoring.
It’s important to note that Ketamine overdose is a rare event and most cases treated with supportive care. Treatments such as induction of anesthesia or intubation are not typically needed.
It’s also important to remember that overdose can be prevented by avoiding recreational use of ketamine and using it only under medical supervision.