Does Ketamine effect the hormone Cortisol?

[Bargnani]

Just wondering, if it decreases or increases cortisol levels in body.

 

[TurelGrigori]

I wouldn't consider this answer definitive if you have a medical condition where it is vital to keep cortisol above or below a certain level (in other words ask your Doctor if its medically important) BUT I'd say ketamine causes an increase in cortisol. Within the period of administration cortisol goes up.SPECULATION--- The antidepressant effects of ketamine go for six weeks to maybe 3 months. I could picture that post administration ketamine lowers cortisol, as elevated cortisol has been discussed as a marker of depression.

Cortisol levels steadily declined during placebo and memantine infusion with nadir levels at 80 min. In contrast ketamine increased cortisol serum levels at 60 min after infusion, which differed significantly from the decrease observed after memantine or placebo infusion

Ketamine increased prolactin and cortisol levels, which is in good agreement with data obtained by Krystal et al. (1994).

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v24/n5/full/1395602a.html