Reference no: EM133767584

Question

Recently, my preceptor and I had a conversation about ketamine and cannabis use. Patients are informed that they should not partake in cannabis for at least twenty-four hours before getting ketamine. They can use cannabis in the evening after their ketamine appointment if they want to. Several of my preceptor's patients have medical marijuana cards while receiving ketamine treatment, and so far, patients have followed instructions. According to my preceptor and what she has seen when treating patients, using cannabis and ketamine too close together can cause increased confusion, drowsiness, agitation, disassociation, nausea/vomiting. and can lead to more paranoid thoughts if the patient is already in a bad headspace. My preceptor told me how, in the past, a patient had used cannabis a few hours before the appointment. He did not tell the staff that he had used cannabis and was already experiencing some mild paranoia. He was given ketamine, and shortly after the ketamine kicked in, he started yelling and becoming increasingly agitated. A nurse went in to check on him and de-escalate the situation. When he saw her, the increased confusion and agitation due to using both substances and his increasing paranoia led him.