Ketamine for RLS

[4inthemorning]

I’m looking for information on and experience with ketamine for treatment of RLS. There seems to be good history as a treatment but little info out on the web. Thanks!.

[ChrisColumbus]

The following extracted from a link in a piece on 'Alternative and adjunct medications for RLS' that Hidden shared a couple of months ago:

"Ketamine is another NMDA receptor antagonist which is used as an adjunct to anesthesia induction [42]. In a case report, two patients with RLS were treated with ketamine 30–40 mg bid mixed with 50 ml water given orally [42]. Both patients noted an immediate improvement in RLS symptoms as documented on a visual analogue scale after administration of ketamine (improvement from 6/10 to 2/10 and from 7/10 to 2/10, respectively), and both patients were continuing on ketamine for 1–6 months at the time of publication (no p-value provided) [42]. Neither of the subjects in this study experienced side effects [42]. This report comes from the anesthesia literature and, given the unusual oral formulation for its administration in this study, it is recommended that the medication be given in consultation with an anesthesiologist [42,43]. Other side-effects to be aware of for prescribers include the possibility of laryngospasm, cardiac arrhythmia, hypotension, dependence, respiratory depression, and hallucination [43].

42. Kapur N, Friedman R. Oral Ketamine: A Promising Treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome. Anesth Analg. 2002; 94(6): 1558–9, table of contents. DOI: 10.1097/00000539-200206000-00034

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/120...

43. Lexicomp. “Ketamine: Drug Information.”

uptodate.com/contents/ketam... (accessed 2023.01.29).

[SueJohnson]

Yes it may help RLS. If you try it, will be interested in the results.

[SueJohnson]

Enter it in the search box. There are a number of posts about it.

[Spurdog1]

Ketamine is used for operations. It is the date rape drug. Our cat was given it for speying. She was hallucinating for the next 24 hours. Terrified.

[Avart]

I have used it as needed sublingually from a dropper bottle, at approx the doses mentioned, and it does work well! For me does not last whole night even at higher dose but I have tolerance, many people it can be stimulating and cause insomnia, perhaps oral (swallowed) is another option, but yes it definitely has utility. Do not have access to it regularly though.

[Dougg]

I underwent six (legal) ketamine sessions under the supervision of a trained anesthesiology nurse. I could not detect any impact in my RLS.