Ketamine, Injection KET-a-meen

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anesthetic

Generic and brand names: ketamine, injection; Ketalar

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection to cause relaxation or sleep before and during surgery or diagnostic procedures.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a stroke or head injury
• glaucoma
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• lung disease or breathing problems
• problems with alcohol abuse

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by a healthcare provider trained in the use of anesthesia. This medicine may be given as a shot into a muscle or as a short IV infusion (in a vein).

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or numbness. Do not drive or operate machinery for at least 24 hours.

This medicine may cause you to have unusual behavior or thoughts after the surgery or procedure. These may include seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations), confusion, or feeling very excited or like you are dreaming while you are awake. If you have any of these side effects for more than 24 hours, contact your healthcare provider.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat), seizures.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Irregular or rapid heartbeat, trouble breathing, seizures, unusual weakness or tiredness, severe dizziness or fainting; severe confusion, nervousness, or hallucinations that last longer than 24 hours.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abnormal dreams, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred or double vision, restlessness, pain or redness at site of injection.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital, and secobarbital (Seconal)
• narcotic analgesics (painkillers) such as codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), meperidine (Demerol), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox), and pentazocine (Talwin)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, prochlorperazine, and thioridazine
• St. John's wort
• sleeping pills such as triazolam (Halcion), zolpidem (Ambien), and temazepam (Restoril)
• tranquilizers such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.