Ketamine: What It Is, Who Should Use It, And How the Palliative Population is Different

Ketamine is in the news right now because Matthew Perry died from improper use of ketamine and his physicians just got arrested for making that possible.

It is always a bit shocking when physicians get arrested for prescribing medication. It does seem like his physicians were not acting in accordance with their hippocratic oath - if that's true, shame on them.

I do wonder, though, will this make clinicians less inclined to use ketamine to help reduce their patients' suffering. In addition to being an anesthetic, ketamine is used to help reduce severe and persistent chronic pain and depression. 

In the palliative population it can be used orally, but for most people it is used IV and only under the direct (in office) supervision of a physician or other clinician.

Do you use it in your practice? Did this case impact your plans to use ketamine in the future?

Join us in the Integrative Palliative Medicine interest group on Facebook and share your experience.

I appreciate you,
Delia
www.integrativepalliative.com

Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’s Illness Without Losing Yourself is available here: www.copingcourageously.com

A free guide for physicians to help reclaim your joy at work and in life https://trainings.integrativepalliative.com/pl/2148540010

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