The Effects of Low Dose Ketamine on Cardiovascular Function

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status and phase

Terminated

Phase 1

Conditions

Healthy

Treatments

Drug: Saline (placebo)

Drug: Ketamine

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04429685

STU-2019-1792

Details and patient eligibility

About

Low dose ketamine is used for pain management and for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Prior studies on low dose ketamine have noted short-term (minutes to hours) increases or decreases in blood pressure. Blood pressure that is too high or too low can be problematic if untreated. It is unknown exactly how low dose ketamine affects blood pressure. In fact, no prior studies have measured sympathetic nervous system activity after low dose ketamine has been given to an adult. Because sympathetic nervous system activity has a large influence on blood pressure, we need to know how exactly low dose ketamine affects these body systems. Therefore, in this research we will study how low dose ketamine affects sympathetic nervous system activity and cardiovascular function. The results from this research will inform doctors about how low dose ketamine affects the sympathetic nervous system, heart, and blood vessels.

Enrollment

6 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 45 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Non-obese (body mass index less than 30 kg/m2)

*alternatively, individuals will be permitted to participate if they have a body mass index value below 35 kg/m2 but a waist circumference below 88 cm for females and 102 cm for males
Systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg
Diastolic blood pressure <90 mmHg

Exclusion criteria

Participants who have cardiac, respiratory, neurological, and/or metabolic illnesses
Current or previous use of anti-hypertensive medications
Any known history of renal or hepatic insufficiency/disease
Pregnancy or breast feeding
Current smokers, as well as individuals who regularly smoked within the past 3 years
Individuals with a history of drug abuse
Individuals who have an unexplained positive urine drug screen (e.g., some agents cause false-positive results, but when the agent is abstained for hours/days/weeks, the repeated drug screen is negative. One example could be an over-the-counter supplement)