Zofran, or ondansetron, is commonly used to prevent nausea and vomiting. It is a selective serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, which blocks the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in nausea and vomiting, at the 5-HT3 receptors in the brain and gastrointestinal tract (1).
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic agent that has gained attention for its use in treating various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is typically administered in sub-anesthetic doses during therapeutic sessions to elicit rapid antidepressant effects (2).
In a therapeutic ketamine session, Zofran can be used to minimize the side effects associated with ketamine administration, particularly nausea, and vomiting. Since ketamine can stimulate the release of serotonin in the brain (3), it has the potential to activate the 5-HT3 receptors and induces nausea and vomiting. By blocking these receptors, Zofran helps reduce these unpleasant side effects, allowing patients to tolerate the ketamine treatment better and focus on its therapeutic benefits.
It is important to note that the combination of Zofran and ketamine should be administered under the supervision of a healthcare professional experienced in ketamine therapy to ensure the safety and efficacy of the treatment.
Aapro, M. S. (2012). The role of ondansetron in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. European Journal of Cancer Care, 21(1), 2-8.
Sanacora, G., Frye, M. A., McDonald, W., Mathew, S. J., Turner, M. S., Schatzberg, A. F., … & Nemeroff, C. B. (2017). A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(4), 399-405.
Yamakura, T., & Shimoji, K. (1999). Subunit- and agonist-specific regulation of glutamate receptor channel desensitization by recombinant ketamine. British Journal of Pharmacology, 127(5), 1232-1238.