Expert: Jacqui - 11/18/2010

Question
Hi, I was hoping that you would be able to answer a question.  If a person (15 year old) took a recreational dose of ketamine, and experienced a negative reaction (breathing difficulties, heart rate increased), and was taken into the emergency treatment at the hospital, what sort of procedures would follow?  What would they do to stabilise him, and what sort of follow-up would there be?  Thank you very much, I hope this is something in your field of expertise, I wasn't too sure who to ask.

Answer
Hi Lily,

I am curious why you are asking and wondering if you are a parent and concerned something may have happened to your child.  If that is the case, I preface this answer by saying that if you are wondering about your child you should ask them what happened.  If they choose not to tell you, then they are doing what 90% of teenagers do (i.e.: not tell their parents things).  

Firstly, Ketamine is used in anasthetics and also illicitly for its recreational effects.  Deaths from Ketamine are not common, although some effects can be frightening to the user, especially a "K-Hole" where people cannot move their body.  Ketamine is considered safer than other similar drugs in that it doesn't suppress the nervous system as much, so to overdose and die, the user would have to take a huge dose.  

Treatment for a ketamine overdose would be largely supportive - in that the airway would be kept open and oxygen administered and the person would be monitored.  It is not a long acting drug so the experience should not last for too long.  

I hope that helps.  Please let me know if there is any further information you would like.

Take care and whatever you do, do it safely.

Jacqui