Ketamine Interactions: What You Need to Know

Ketamine has gained recognition for its use in treating depression, PTSD, and chronic pain, but understanding how it interacts with other medications is crucial for safety and efficacy. If you’re considering ketamine therapy or currently using it, here’s what you need to know about potential interactions. You can consult the attached PDF for a detailed breakdown of these interactions.

Ketamine-Based Therapies

Ketamine is used in various therapeutic settings, including:

• Intravenous (IV) Ketamine Infusions: Typically used for treatment-resistant depression, chronic pain, and PTSD, administered ONLY under medical supervision.
• Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Combines ketamine with guided therapy sessions to enhance emotional processing and psychological healing.
• Intranasal (Spravato®) Therapy: An FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray for major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation.
• Oral & Sublingual Ketamine: Sometimes used in lower doses for at-home treatment protocols under medical guidance.

Before proceeding with any kind of ketamine therapy, you should be aware of both short-term and long-term effects. Here are some of them. Also, make sure to consult a medical professional before starting any treatment.

Short-Term Effects

• Mild dissociation and altered perception
• Rapid relief from depressive symptoms
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Nausea or dizziness in some individuals
• Temporary cognitive impairment

Long-Term Effects

• Potential for dependency with frequent use
• Cognitive changes with prolonged high-dose use
• Bladder issues (ketamine cystitis) in chronic users
• Sustained antidepressant benefits with controlled therapeutic use

At Tribe Tatanka, we emphasize harm reduction and education. If you have any questions about ketamine therapy and medication interactions, feel free to reach out to us for guidance.