Raise your hand if you like cleanliness or if you're against getting infections! Well if you raised your hand, you are in luck. We are excited to share another health property of ketamine you may not have been known.
Ketamine is an anti-microbial (aka kills or stops growth of microorganisms)!!!
In a study by Gocmen and colleagues they found that high doses of ketamine in the laboratory setting was able to kill bacteria [1]. We agree with the authors when they state they do not recommend the use of ketamine for severe infections such as sepsis (infection of the blood) as the doses which were effective against bacteria was very high (up to 2000 micrograms) and certainly not the dose given during ketamine infusions.
In a different study out of Brazil, Begec and colleagues found ketamine was able to maintain its antimicrobial effect, even when mixed with pro-microbial propofol (yup, "Jackson juice") [2]. These two medications are often mixed and used in the clinical setting for procedural sedation or anesthesia.
Now you aren't going to convince any doctor to use ketamine to fight an infection. However, we wanted to share how ketamine works on so many pathways and processes in the body, and this may give us clue as to why its such a powerful & transformative medicine.
References:
This blog explores whether repeated ketamine infusions are safe over time, plus stresses the importance of communicating with your provider about any potential side effects.