Aug. 23, 2024 – In the aftermath of Perry’s death, many press reports focused on ketamine’s growing use for treatment-resistant depression. When it is administered under medical supervision, it is generally safe—and for some patients who haven’t responded to conventional anti-depressant treatments—highly effective. However, ketamine should never be used for self-treatment.
Perry readily evaded this caveat by turning to sources willing to supply him with ever-increasing doses. For this reason, I worry that the rapid proliferation of “ketamine clinics” and telehealth prescribing may prompt regulators to sharply restrict access to this helpful drug.
At low doses—well below those used for anesthesia—ketamine retains its potent pain-relieving effects. This makes it a useful alternative to morphine, fentanyl and other opioids for treating severe pain in emergency situations. First used for this purpose in Afghanistan and Iraq to treat combat casualties, ketamine worked so well that it’s been adopted by many civilian EMS agencies. If the FDA authorized its use to treat pain in emergency care settings, manufacturers could pre-package the drug in low dose vials as they do with other emergency medications. This would make it easier and safer to administer in emergencies, and harder to divert than large multi-dose vials.
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