Nausea is never fun. One of the side effects of ketamine is nausea. Ketamine can stimulate the area in the brain called the vestibular system. This part of the brain is responsible for balance and spatial orientation.
Ketamine also has an irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract which can result in nausea and vomiting. Some of the receptors in the brain are also found in the gut. These types of receptors originated from the same embryonic cells. This connection explains why many of the psychiatric medications, including ketamine, can result in side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
Have you ever had a traumatic experience that caused you to feel sick to your stomach when you thought about or remembered it? Stress and anxiety can affect the stomach, causing us to feel butterflies, nausea, or a knot in our stomach. The vagus nerve is a long nerve that runs from the brainstem all the way down to the gut allowing for communication between the brain and gut. It regulates many bodily functions, including digestion and emotional regulation. There are also millions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that live in our intestines. Tiny microbes play a vital part in digestion, immune function, and metabolism. An additional function of the microbes is to produce neurotransmitters which can directly influence our brain’s function. An example would be the 90% of the whole body’s serotonin which is found in the gut. Serotonin regulates appetite, mood and sleep.
How Can We Prevent Nausea During A Ketamine Treatment?
Through proper preparation and pre-medication, nausea and vomiting can be lessened or eliminated.
- Fasting. At our clinic, we have our patients fast before a ketamine infusion. Empty stomachs help prevent nausea. Additionally, there is a decrease in potential aspiration with fasting.
- We also prescribe various medications to help manage nausea. Zofran, or ondansetron, along with Phenergan may be used. Another useful medication is countering effects induced by ketamine. Lastly, meclizine, also known as Antivert is commonly used for motion sickness. This medication helps with dizziness and nausea.
