Ketamine

The Basics

What is Ketamine?

A class III scheduled drug used in hospitals to induce loss of consciousness, or anesthesia.

Brand names for Ketamine

Ketamine Hydrochloride

How Ketamine is classified

Anesthetics – Intravenous, Hypnotics and Sedatives, Anesthetics, Dissociative, Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists;

Ketamine During Pregnancy

Ketamine pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Ketamine while pregnant

N/A

Taking Ketamine While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Ketamine?

Breastmilk levels of ketamine have not been measured after administration to humans. Minimal data indicated that ketamine use in nursing mothers may not affect the breastfed infant or lactation. Until more data are available, ketamine should only be used with careful monitoring during breastfeeding. Alternate agents are preferred.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Breastmilk levels of ketamine have not been measured after administration to humans. Minimal data indicated that ketamine use in nursing mothers may not affect the breastfed infant or lactation. Until more data are available, ketamine should only be used with careful monitoring during breastfeeding. Alternate agents are preferred.

Possible effects of Ketamine on milk supply

A pregnant woman sustained 28% body surface area burns near term. She underwent an emergency cesarean section on her due date under ketamine anesthesia. Although the infant required vigorous resuscitation, the infant began breastfeeding immediately. The infant had transient jaundice that resolved in a few days.[2]

A study compared women undergoing cesarean section who received either placebo or S-ketamine (esketamine) 0.5 mg/kg intramuscularly, followed by a continuous infusion of 2 mcg/kg/minute for 12 hours. This low dose was used to enhance analgesia and reduce residual pain rather than to provide anesthesia. All women received intraspinal bupivacaine 8 to10 mg and sufentanil 5 mcg for analgesia, as well as midazolam 0.02 mg/kg intravenously before the S-ketamine or placebo injection. Postoperatively, patients received patient-controlled intravenous morphine for 24 hours, followed by acetaminophen, oral ketorolac and a single dose of ondansetron 8 mg intravenously as needed. Of the 56 patients enrolled in the study (28 in each group), 13 in each group were contacted at 3 years postpartum. Patients who received placebo reported breastfeeding for an average of 10.5 months and those who received S-ketamine reported breastfeeding for an average of 8 months; however, the difference was not statistically significant.[3]

A randomized, double-blind study compared the effects of intravenous propofol 0.25 mg/kg, ketamine 0.25 mg/kg, ketamine 25 mg plus propofol 25 mg, and saline placebo for pain control in mothers post-cesarean section. A single dose was given immediately after clamping of the umbilical cord. The time to the first breastfeeding was 58 minutes in those who received placebo, 31.9 minutes with ketamine and 25.8 minutes with propofol plus ketamine. The time was significantly shorter than the other groups with the combination.[4]

Possible alternatives to Ketamine

Dexmedetomidine, Etomidate, Methohexital, Propofol, Thiopental.