What are the different ketamine dosages?
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discusses various aspects of ketamine dosages and administration in the . He specifies that in clinical studies, ketamine is injected as half a milligram per kilogram of body weight to provide relief from depression 1. The route of delivery is significant, with intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) injections being the most common in studies. Recreational or home use may involve oral pills or sublingual troches, but only about 25% of the active form of ketamine makes it into the bloodstream when taken orally, and about 35% when taken sublingually 2.
Recreationally, a term referred to as "K-hole" is used to describe a high dosage that induces a pseudo-anesthetized state, signifying that an individual has crossed over to an anesthesia-level dose of ketamine, which can be dangerous 1. Furthermore, ketamine can also bind to opioid receptors, contributing to pain relief and euphoria at lower doses, usually half a milligram per kilogram, and induce anesthesia at higher doses (1-2 milligrams per kilogram) 3.
The variability in dosages and individual responses to ketamine, as well as differing absorption rates depending on the route of administration, highlight the importance of careful dosage considerations and the potential risks of trying to achieve specific blood levels through non-injectable means 2. Additionally, ketamine exists in different isomers, with the SR combined form considered most potent, followed by the S form (commonly given via nasal spray, oral dosing, or sublingual dosing), and the least effective being the r form of ketamine 4.
Finally, it's crucial to highlight that for depression treatment, there's a lack of clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of microdosing ketamine, implying that the half milligram per kilogram or its equivalent is the tested approach 4.
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