What are the uses of ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication that doctors use as an anesthetic to induce loss of consciousness. Under the Controlled Substances Act, health experts consider ketamine a schedule III non-narcotic substance.

The drug is a Schedule III non-narcotic that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for use only as a general anesthetic. However, doctors sometimes prescribe it for “off-label” uses, such as depression. Off-label means using the drugs to treat conditions the FDA has not approved.

Some people use ketamine for its hallucinogenic properties. Ketamin can sedate, incapacitate, and cause short-term memory loss, and because of this, some people use it as a date-rape drug.

While ketamine is safe to use in controlled medical practice, it becomes hazardous if someone takes it for recreational use as it may result in potentially life-threatening adverse effects.

Keep reading to learn more about the uses, side effects, and risks of ketamine, as well as its interactions with alcohol and other drugs.

The FDA has approved ketamine for general anesthesia only, but the drug has some off-label uses. Details are below.

Doctors use ketamine to induce general anesthesia alone or with other general anesthetics, such as nitrous oxide. They use it in the emergency department setting to produce short-term sedation when:

Learn more about general anesthesia.

Practitioners use low doses that do not produce dissociation to relieve severe pain from the following conditions:

Learn how to manage chronic pain here.

Status epilepticus is when a person has a seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes or has more than one seizure within 5 minutes.

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is a form of status epilepticus that does not respond to standard antiseizure drugs. It is a severe disease that can cause brain damage and death.

A 2015 study found that ketamine may effectively treat RSE. However, further research is necessary to verify the study findings and prove the safety of using ketamine to treat this condition.

Learn more about epilepsy here.

Research in 2017 notes that some studies indicate ketamine can quickly relieve depression in people who do not respond well to other treatment.

Despite these positive results, the authors warn that data on the use of ketamine for this condition are limited, so practitioners should consider the risks of the drug before prescribing it.

A 2016 study cautions that the inappropriate use of ketamine is a worldwide health problem due to its hallucinogenic properties. With this in mind, they urge doctors to prescribe standard antidepressants before trying ketamine for depression.

Learn more about depression here.

Research on the use of ketamine for anxiety is scarce. However, one study suggests that it may help people with social anxiety disorder (SAD). This condition involves a marked fear of social situations.

The 2017 clinical trial tested the drug on 18 participants and concluded that it might effectively treat SAD.

Because several other trials indicate ketamine may have significant antianxiety effects, the authors encouraged future studies to explore this possible benefit more fully.

Learn more about anxiety here.

The most common side effects of ketamine at prescribed doses include:

Ketamine can also produce an extensive array of other symptoms that affect many parts of the body, but they are less common.

Learn more about the side effects of drugs here.

Evidence shows that ketamine is safe for use in people within a wide age range when taken correctly.

However, ketamine is only safe when a person takes the drug their doctor has prescribed for a specific purpose.

Despite the general safety, ketamine has the following risks:

Doctors do not recommend ketamine for people of any age who have conditions in which high blood pressure could lead to:

The drug is also not suitable for individuals with schizophrenia or who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Learn more about respiratory depression here.

Ketamine makes people feel detached from their environment, eases pain, and produces hallucinations, which has led to its inappropriate use.

Individuals who take ketamine recreationally report sensations, such as being separated from their body or a pleasant feeling of floating. Some people have an almost complete sensory detachment that they compare to a near-death experience.

The drug is popular among teens and young adults at dance clubs. People who use it claim that a ketamine trip is superior to a PCP or LSD trip because it produces shorter-term hallucinations that last 30 minutes to an hour instead of several hours.

Learn more about why LSD trips last so long.

Ketamine also causes individuals to have no memory of events that happen while they are under its influence. Due to this effect and its ability to sedate and incapacitate, some people use it as a date-rape drug. Perpetrators who use it in this manner may slip it into a beverage of the person they wish to victimize. Because it is odorless and tasteless, someone cannot detect it.

Street names of ketamine include:

It is important to note that ketamine is no longer safe when individuals take it inappropriately. The danger increases with regular use since it can harm health and other aspects of life. The side effects and risks can be so severe that they cause death.

Learn more about the effects of drug misuse here.

No person with alcohol abuse disorder or alcohol intoxication should take ketamine, even in doctor-prescribed doses, as it can cause death. Both alcohol and ketamine are central nervous system depressants, so the combined effects are dangerous.

Learn more about alcohol abuse here.

The following adverse drug interactions are possible:

Aside from the above drug interactions, a 2017 study reports that taking ketamine with amphetamine-like stimulants can produce undesirable effects.

Amphetamines may worsen the thinking disorders associated with ketamine, while ketamine may worsen depression, anxiety, and lack of energy.

A person taking ketamine should check with their doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications.

Learn more about drug interactions here.

One of the dangers of ketamine overdose involves a higher risk of accidents and injuries due to impaired alertness. High doses can also cause death that stems from their physical effects.

If an individual experiences any of the following symptoms, a bystander should call 911 to get immediate medical attention:

Learn about DMT, a drug that can cause a hallucinatory near-death experience.

The Controlled Substance Act classifies ketamine as a Schedule III non-narcotic drug. Because of its pain-relieving and mental effects, it can cause dependence, the need to take higher doses to get the same effect, and addiction.

Like any other addiction, ketamine can create a powerful bond that takes control of a person’s life. It is critically important that an individual who engages in inappropriate use of ketamine get professional counseling and treatment.

Learn more about the symptoms of addiction here.

Ketamine is a general anesthetic that doctors find useful in emergency room settings when performing procedures, such as reducing fractures and treating joint dislocations.

Some studies suggest the drug may have other medical uses, but more research is necessary to prove its safety and effectiveness in these areas.

It is important to distinguish between the valid medical uses and the nonmedical uses of the drug. Although people with certain heart conditions should not take ketamine, it is generally safe when a trained professional administers it in clinical settings.

In contrast, no recreational use of the drug is safe, as it can cause addiction and adverse health effects that can lead to death.

Why Travel Medical Insurance Is Essential

Editorial Note: They earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect their editors' opinions or evaluations.

No one wants to get sick while on vacation, and an illness or injury can be one of the most devastating events that can happen during a trip.

Travel medical insurance is designed to help in these cases. It’s especially important if you’re traveling outside the country, where your U.S. health plan may have limited or no coverage. And Medicare doesn’t cover health care outside the U.S., except in very narrow cases.

Travel medical insurance pays for emergency medical expenses during a trip. If you are traveling and have an unexpected illness, injury or medical condition that’s covered by your travel medical insurance, the plan will reimburse you, up to the plan limits.

Travel medical insurance pays “reasonable and customary” charges for bills such as:

Generally, there are two forms of travel medical insurance :

Travel medical insurance is for medical emergencies while traveling, like a sprained ankle while sightseeing. It does not cover non-emergency or elective procedures.

“It’s not intended for experimental medical treatment in a foreign country,” explains Carol Mueller, vice president at Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. “It’s designed for travelers who face medical or dental emergencies and require care and treatment while traveling.”

There are many travel medical plans available that include Covid-related medical expenses. But since not all do, it’s important to verify Covid coverage before buying a plan if it’s a priority for you.

Covid medical coverage will fall under the limits of the plan’s travel medical insurance. It can cover any medical costs associated with contracting Covid during your trip, including doctor bills, medication and hospitalization.

Additional travel insurance benefits, such as travel delay insurance, can cover the extra costs of Covid quarantines. For example, if you contract Covid during a trip and have to extend your stay because of a quarantine, your travel insurance plan can reimburse you for the extra costs—assuming the plan includes Covid coverage.

See Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best pandemic travel insurance plans for more information.

When you’re buying travel medical insurance, it’s important to know the difference between these coverage types.

Travel medical insurance can be primary or secondary coverage, depending on the plan. If it’s primary, it will pay out before any other health insurance you have. If you have health insurance and buy travel medical insurance as secondary coverage, your own health plan must pay first.

If you’re traveling overseas and your U.S. health plan doesn’t provide coverage, a travel medical plan that’s “secondary” will essentially become primary coverage due to lack of other insurance.

How often you travel in a calendar year could be the deciding factor between these two coverage types. Here’s the difference between the two.

You also want to consider emergency medical evacuation insurance. This pays for you to get to the nearest adequate medical facility, or even back home, depending on your condition. For example, if you’re vacationing in a remote part of the world, this would be essential coverage to have. Medical evacuation back to the U.S. can cost more than $50,000, according to the U.S. Department of State.

Be aware of your travel insurance policy’s rules for evacuation. For example, some policies might pay to transport you back to the U.S. only after you’ve been hospitalized for seven days following a medical emergency.

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What’s covered and excluded by a travel medical insurance plan will depend on the travel insurance company. Here are some common exclusions.

How pre-existing conditions are covered will vary by travel insurance company, and one insurer might define a “pre-existing condition” differently than the next. Some insurance companies will take a look at your past medical history to determine if a condition was present during a period that could range from 90 days to one year ago, depending on the policy.

Travel insurance plans will generally cover pre-existing conditions as long as you buy your plan within a couple of weeks after you make your first trip deposit. Buying your plan right away lets you lock in a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver. For example, Allianz Travel requires you to meet the following requirements before it will cover expenses due to a pre-existing medical condition:

Travel medical insurance typically won’t cover emergency medical costs due to intoxication or drug use. For example, if you become intoxicated and fall off a balcony, your travel medical insurance won’t cover the cost of your injuries.

Some travel medical insurance policies won’t cover expenses that resulted from activities such as mountain climbing, skydiving or parasailing. If you plan to engage in activities like this, work with a travel insurance agent to compare adventure travel insurance plans to make sure your particular activities will be covered.

Other typical exclusions to travel medical insurance include:

Even travelers in good health should have some form of travel medical insurance if they’re going outside the U.S. According to Allianz Travel, the most common overseas medical emergencies their policyholders experience include:

If you don’t have the right coverage in place and you get injured or sick on your trip, you’ll be stuck paying medical bills out-of-pocket.

Senior travelers, especially, should make sure to have good medical benefits when traveling abroad, since Medicare won’t provide benefits outside the U.S.

“If you’re traveling outside the United States you absolutely need some form of travel medical insurance. You also need to look at where you are traveling outside the country because medical care varies greatly around the world,” says Mueller at Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.

Before you buy a travel insurance policy, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple insurers. Most travel insurance companies offer free quotes on their website. You can save time by visiting an insurance comparison website that compares quotes from multiple companies.

But price shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. It’s a good idea to find a plan that also covers Covid-related problems. The best travel insurance companies offer a solid range of coverage options at a fair price.

The average price for a stand-alone travel medical insurance policy is $92.75 per trip, according to Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider.

However, some travelers may be able to secure a basic travel medical insurance plan for as little as $2 or less per person per day of coverage.

Keep in mind that travel medical insurance can also be part of or added to a comprehensive travel plan that includes other types of coverage, like trip cancellation insurance and trip interruption insurance. The average cost of a comprehensive travel insurance plan will vary based on the cost of your trip, duration of trip, plan benefits selected and your age.

Read more: How to get cheap travel insurance

How much you pay for travel medical insurance depends on four primary factors:

It’s a good idea to select a plan with enough coverage based upon the type of trip you’re taking. For example, emergency medical evacuation from a cruise ship can cost between $50,000 and $100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The most generous travel insurance plans provide $500,000 per person for emergency medical expenses and $1 million for emergency medical evacuation.

Other good plans have ample medical coverage of $250,000 or $100,000 per person. And some have less, which you might find sufficient. See Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best travel insurance.

Here are examples of travel insurance plans with at least $100,000 coverage for medical expenses and at least $250,000 for emergency evacuation.

If you are traveling outside of the U.S., consider buying travel medical insurance even if you have a U.S.-based health plan. Many health plans won’t cover you outside the U.S. or provide only limited global coverage. If you get sick or injured, you could be stuck paying for your medical expenses out-of-pocket.

Senior travelers should definitely get travel medical insurance because Medicare isn’t accepted outside the U.S., except in very limited cases.

If you have a medical emergency while traveling abroad, contact your travel insurance company for assistance. Travel insurance companies offer 24/7 global assistance hotlines to help travelers in emergencies, including coordinating medical treatment, language translation and arranging for medevacs.

It’s best to buy travel insurance within the first 14 days of your first trip deposit so that you can get a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver. This waiver means that pre-existing conditions won’t be excluded from your travel medical coverage.

Even if you miss the window from your first trip deposit, you can still buy travel insurance at the last minute.

If you want coverage for problems such as trip cancellation, trip delay, trip interruption and lost baggage, then look at comprehensive travel insurance plans.

If you only need travel medical coverage, it doesn’t make sense to spend money on coverage you won’t use and you can focus on medical-only plans.

Travel health insurance requirements aren’t common, but some countries do require travelers to provide proof of medical coverage before being granted entry.

Always check a country’s entry requirements before leaving the country. If your trip includes an organized tour, it’s also a good idea to check with the tour operator to determine if they have any specific insurance requirements.

Keep in mind that travel conditions and requirements are fluid. For instance, you may find that a country experiencing a high-level of Covid transmission may require travelers to carry insurance that covers Covid testing, quarantine and hospitalization costs.

Helping You Make Smart Insurance Decisions

Get Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best insurance companies and helpful information on how to find the best travel, auto, home, health, life, pet, and small business coverage for your needs.

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Medical Scholars Program

The Saint Louis University Medical Scholars Program offers an exclusive opportunity for exceptional SLU students to gain experience and connections with the SLU School of Medicine.

The program provides medical school preparation privileges but does not certain acceptance to the School of Medicine; however, participation in this program and its challenging nature greatly increase students' likelihood of matriculation to medical school. Regardless of admission status, all scholars are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Medical Scholars must follow the program requirements as set by the Office of Pre-Health and Pre-Law Studies, and meet the SLU School of Medicine technical standards.

Apply to the Medical Scholars Program

Watch a recorded webinar on the Medical Scholars Program 

The Medical Scholars Program application can be found in your Billiken Gateway portal after Sept. 1. Applying via the Common App? Log into the Billiken Gateway portal after your Common App has been submitted to fill out the application.

Access the Billiken Gateway Portal

Eligible applicants must have an outstanding academic record with only As and Bs in math and science courses. The following materials must be submitted as part of the Medical Scholars Program application:

If admitted to the Medical Scholars Program, applicants must confirm their acceptance by completing the Medical Scholars Program Rules Acknowledgment Form. This form must be signed, dated and returned to the Office of Admission via email.

During your freshman year, you can now apply to the Medical Scholars Program to become a scholar in your sophomore year. You will share the same benefits as first-year Medical Scholars and be able to interview with SLU’s medical school during your junior year. 

More information to come on requirements and the application process.

Concentrate on science and math courses. Take additional courses in science rather than math if given the choice, unless you plan to major in mathematics or biomedical engineering. In that case, you should take as many math courses as possible.

Consider taking Advanced Placement and/or Advanced Credit courses whenever possible. Advanced coursework in science and math is excellent preparation for pre-professional health studies in college. Medical schools generally do not accept AP/AC credit for biology, chemistry or physics. Students are encouraged to take these courses at a four-year college or university.

The answer to this question is: whatever major you like best! Select a major which allows you to explore the content that you enjoy, and to strengthen and refine your critical and analytical thinking skills. Although many pre-medical students do select majors in STEM subject areas, this is not necessary for acceptance to medical school. If you are unsure of what major to choose, the Saint Louis University Student Success Center can help.

Regardless of their major, it is important that all pre-medical student incorporate the following coursework into their undergraduate curriculum:

Medical schools pay particular attention to your overall GPA, math/science GPA, and MCAT score. You must also demonstrate a clear motivation to pursue a career in health care and are encouraged to shadow and/or volunteer in clinical settings. Leadership experience, community service and appropriate extracurricular activities benefit your application. Communication skills (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills are also important and should be evident in your application and supporting letters.

Yes; however, Medical Scholars who are conditionally accepted to SLU School of Medicine and apply to outside medical schools will forfeit their guaranteed seat. If such a student then wishes to be reconsidered for admission, he or she must follow the regular application process for Saint Louis University School of Medicine.