Ketamine-- how to prepare patients?

[u/rainbowsforeverrr]

Hi folks, ER nurse here. I'm curious how you talk to patients about ketamine admin for procedures or for intractable pain relief. I give it fairly often but I still haven't found the right way to prepare patients (or parents of littles) for the psychotropic effects. I've never used ketamine personally, but it seems to be a very intense experience that ought to be part of the informed consent conversation. What is our ethical obligation?

[u/halp-im-lost]

I tell people to think about their favorite place on earth, keep their eyes closed, and dim the lights. I try to keep everything non stimulating as they are going over.

It works well most of the time but sometimes people just have a really really really bad trip. Luckily that’s really rare but woof when it happens it’s not great.