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Grand rounds commentary
Ketamine: friend or foe?
  1. Nicolene Steyn1,2
  1. 1 Chemical Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
  2. 2 Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
  1. Correspondence to Dr Nicolene Steyn, Chemical Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, Gauteng, South Africa; nicolene.st{at}gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2021-207586

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    Ketamine, a dissociative anaesthetic drug, acts on the central nervous system (CNS) primarily through antagonism of the n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor.1 Methods of administration include intravenous, intramuscular, snorting and smoking.2 Intranasal use, which has a very rapid onset of action, is common among recreational users.3

    Ketamine may be used as an antidepressant and for recovery from drug abuse.1 Doses used in abuse are significantly higher than for therapy.3 For recreational use, the usual intranasal dose is 50 mg with abusers regularly using multiple doses to prolong intoxication.2 3

    Ketamine’s potential as a recreational drug may have hindered its usefulness in addiction rehabilitation. Studies suggest that ketamine has to …

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    Footnotes

    • Handling editor Tahir S Pillay.

    • Contributors The author herself conceptualised, drafted and wrote the manuscript.

    • Funding The author has not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.

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