Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Drug

Ketamine

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic used in medicine for general anaesthesia, procedural sedation, and pain control.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic used in hospitals and clinics for anaesthesia, sedation, and pain control, and in some settings for treatment-resistant depression.

What it is

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that acts mainly as an NMDA receptor antagonist. It was developed in the 1960s and is used medically for general anaesthesia, procedural sedation, and pain management. It can also cause hallucination, dissociation, and amnesia at higher or non-medical doses.

Medical and depression uses

In hospitals, ketamine is used for procedures that do not require muscle relaxation. For pain management and treatment-resistant depression, it is given under supervision. Esketamine, a related drug, has specific approval for depression in some countries. In Canada, its use for depression is available through specialized clinics, often off label.

Ketamine is a controlled substance in Canada, legal only for authorized medical and veterinary use. Non-medical possession, trafficking, or misuse is illegal. Its depression treatment is available under medical supervision, depending on provincial practice and product approval.

In short

  • Primarily used as an anaesthetic and for pain control under supervision.
  • Off label for depression; esketamine has formal approval in some jurisdictions.
  • In Canada, ketamine is a controlled substance with legal medical use restricted to authorized settings.
Canadian angle

For Canadian readers, the key point is that ketamine is a controlled substance in Canada and is used legally in medical and veterinary settings. Its depression-related use may be available through specialised clinics under medical supervision, depending on provincial practice and product approval.

Quick questions

What is ketamine used for?
Ketamine is used mainly as a general anaesthetic, for procedural sedation, and for pain management. It is also used in some settings for treatment-resistant depression.
Is ketamine legal in Canada?
Yes, ketamine is legal in Canada when used by authorised medical or veterinary professionals. It is a controlled substance, so unauthorised possession, distribution, or sale is illegal.
Can ketamine be used for depression?
Yes, ketamine has been studied and used for treatment-resistant depression, often because it can work quickly. In many places this use is off label, while esketamine has specific approval in some jurisdictions.

Sources

  1. NCBI Bookshelf (StatPearls) — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470357/
    Supports: Medical uses, approved anaesthetic role, depression and pain uses, common adverse effects
  2. DrugBank — https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB01221
    Supports: Mechanism of action as an NMDA receptor antagonist and medical uses
  3. Cleveland Clinic — https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/ketamine-therapy
    Supports: Ketamine therapy, depression use, how it works, supervised administration
  4. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration — https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/ketamine
    Supports: Dissociative effects, medical use, side effects, esketamine mention
  5. National Institute on Drug Abuse — https://www.nida.nih.gov/research-topics/ketamine
    Supports: Medical and off-label depression use, esketamine approval