Ketamine Evolving Clinical Roles and Potential Effects with Cognitive, Motor and Driving Ability
Amber N. Edinoff, Saveen Sall, Colby B. Koontz, Ajah K. Williams, Demarcus Drumgo, Aya Mouhaffel, Elyse M. Cornett, Kevin S. Murnane, Alan D. Kaye
Neurology International March 28, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint15010023 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Driving Cognitive abilities Attention |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Ketamine causes sleepiness and reduces self-reported motivation and confidence in driving abilities, with effects differing by dose and duration of use. |
Abstract
While driving under the influence of drugs, drivers are more likely to be involved in and cause more accidents than drivers who do not drive under the influence. Ketamine is derived from phencyclidine and acts as a noncompetitive antagonist and allosteric modulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Ketamine has been used to treat a variety of psychiatric disorders, with the most notable being treatment-resistant depression. With the rise of at-home ketamine treatment companies, the safety of unsupervised administration remains under evaluation. A study with ketamine and a ketamine-like medication, rapasitnel, showed that those who were given ketamine experienced more sleepiness and had decreased self-reported motivation and confidence in their driving abilities. Moreover, there seem to be significant differences in the acute versus persistent effects of ketamine, as well as the anesthetic versus subanesthetic doses, both in terms of effects and outcomes. These divergent effects complicate the clinical uses of ketamine, specifically involving driving, drowsiness, and cognitive abilities. This review aims to describe not only the various clinical uses of ketamine but also the potentially detrimental effects of driving under the influence, which should be understood to help with counseling the patients who use these substances, both for their well-being and to protect public safety.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine and Ketamine Metabolite Pharmacology: Insights into Therapeutic Mechanisms | 2018 | Review | |
| Mechanisms of Ketamine Action as an Antidepressant | 2018 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Ketamine Pharmacology: An Update (Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Aspects, Recent Findings) | 2013 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Interdisciplinary, Delphi-driven consensus guidelines on the use of intravenous ketamine infusions for depressive disorders from the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners (ASKP3). Journal of Affective Disorders May 16, 2026
- Relief from Chronic Neuropathic Pain with Ketamine but Increased Burden of Psychedelic Adverse Effects? Ketamine 2025
- Ketamine in psychiatry: a systematic review of clinical applications, safety considerations, and emerging challenges Frontiers in Psychiatry October 1, 2026
Cites 10
- Ketamine for the acute treatment of severe suicidal ideation: double blind, randomised placebo controlled trial British medical journal February 2, 2022
- Serotonin 2A receptors are a stress response system: implications for post-traumatic stress disorder. Behavioural Pharmacology April 1, 2019
- The Possible Application of Ketamine in the Treatment of Depression in Alzheimer’s Disease Neurology International June 23, 2022
- Ketamine for psychotic depression: An overview of the glutamatergic system and ketamine's mechanisms associated with antidepressant and psychotomimetic effects. Psychiatry Research October 1, 2021
- Alternative Options for Complex, Recurrent Pain States Using Cannabinoids, Psilocybin, and Ketamine: A Narrative Review of Clinical Evidence Neurology International May 18, 2022
and 5 more in the library