What Is Ketamine Used to Treat? Uses & Safety Guide

If you have searched what is ketamine used to treat, you may have noticed that ketamine is discussed in several different medical contexts. It is a medicine with an established role in anesthesia, while researchers and clinicians have also studied ketamine and its related medicine esketamine for certain mental health conditions and other potential therapeutic applications. Understanding the difference between approved uses and off-label or investigational uses is important when reading information about this medication.

The simplest answer to what is ketamine used to treat is that ketamine is primarily an anesthetic medicine. FDA-approved ketamine products such as KETALAR are indicated for use as a general anesthetic, including for induction of anesthesia and for diagnostic or surgical procedures. Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved in the United States as a treatment for a psychiatric disorder.

At the same time, a related medicine called esketamine is FDA-approved in a specific nasal-spray formulation for certain adults with treatment-resistant depression and for depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder accompanied by acute suicidal ideation or behavior, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant. Esketamine is related to ketamine but should not simply be treated as identical to standard ketamine.

This Health2Organ guide explores what is ketamine used to treat, how ketamine works, why it is used in anesthesia, what researchers have found regarding depression, how ketamine differs from esketamine, what side effects and safety concerns are associated with it, and why medical supervision matters.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat?

When people ask what is ketamine used to treat, the first established medical use to understand is anesthesia. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that can be used to induce general anesthesia. FDA-approved ketamine injection products are indicated as general anesthetics, either as a sole anesthetic agent or alongside other anesthetic medicines, for diagnostic and surgical procedures.

Ketamine has been used in medicine for decades because of its anesthetic properties. In an appropriate clinical setting, it can produce a state in which a patient is less aware of their surroundings and does not experience normal sensations associated with a procedure. Its pharmacological effects also distinguish it from many traditional anesthetic agents.

The answer to what is ketamine used to treat becomes more complicated when the discussion moves beyond anesthesia. Ketamine has been investigated and sometimes used off-label for conditions such as depression and certain pain conditions, but an off-label use is not the same thing as an FDA-approved indication.

That distinction is essential for responsible health information. A medicine can have scientific evidence suggesting potential usefulness in a condition without having regulatory approval for that particular indication.

What Is Ketamine and How Does It Work?

To better understand what is ketamine used to treat, it helps to understand what ketamine does in the nervous system.

Ketamine is classified pharmacologically as an NMDA receptor antagonist. NMDA receptors are involved in glutamate signaling, an important chemical communication system in the brain. By affecting this signaling pathway, ketamine can produce distinctive effects on perception, consciousness, pain processing, and other nervous-system functions.

Ketamine’s effects are dose-dependent and can vary according to how it is administered and the clinical circumstances. At anesthetic doses, it can produce general anesthesia. At lower doses used in some research or off-label clinical settings, the subjective and physiological effects can be different.

The fact that ketamine affects brain signaling helps explain why scientists have studied it for conditions beyond anesthesia. However, understanding a biological mechanism does not automatically establish that a medicine is an appropriate treatment for every condition associated with that mechanism.

Therefore, when researching what is ketamine used to treat, it is important to separate established clinical indications from areas that remain under investigation.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Anesthesia?

The clearest answer to what is ketamine used to treat is anesthesia.

FDA-approved ketamine injection is indicated as a general anesthetic. It can be used as the sole anesthetic agent in certain procedures or as part of a broader anesthetic plan. The FDA also lists diagnostic and surgical procedures among the settings in which approved ketamine injection can be used.

Anesthesia is not technically the treatment of a disease in the same way that an antibiotic treats an infection. Instead, ketamine is being used to produce a medically controlled state that allows a diagnostic or surgical procedure to take place.

During anesthesia, healthcare professionals carefully monitor the patient and manage medications, breathing, circulation, and other physiological functions as necessary. The use of ketamine therefore belongs within a structured medical environment rather than casual or unsupervised use.

Understanding this distinction makes the answer to what is ketamine used to treat more accurate. Ketamine’s primary established role is as an anesthetic medicine.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Emergency Medicine?

Ketamine may also be encountered in emergency and acute-care medicine because of its anesthetic and dissociative properties. However, specific uses and protocols can vary by healthcare system, medical setting, and clinical judgment.

Healthcare professionals may use ketamine in situations where a rapid, controlled effect is needed, particularly when a procedure requires anesthesia or significant procedural sedation. Its use in such settings requires trained professionals who understand the medicine’s effects and potential complications.

The important point when asking what is ketamine used to treat is that emergency use should not be confused with taking ketamine independently for symptoms. Medical professionals determine whether ketamine is appropriate based on the patient’s condition, the procedure, other medications, and the need for monitoring.

Ketamine is a prescription controlled substance, and its use requires appropriate medical oversight. FDA identifies approved ketamine products as Schedule III controlled substances in the United States.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Depression?

One of the most searched questions about ketamine is whether it can be used for depression.

This is where terminology becomes particularly important. Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved in the United States for treating psychiatric disorders. FDA has nevertheless acknowledged substantial interest in the off-label use of ketamine for conditions such as depression and has held public discussions about emerging therapeutic uses.

Research has investigated whether ketamine can produce relatively rapid changes in depressive symptoms, particularly among people whose depression has not adequately responded to conventional treatments. However, research findings should not be interpreted as meaning that ordinary ketamine is an FDA-approved depression treatment.

A related medicine, esketamine, has a specific FDA-approved indication for treatment-resistant depression in adults when used with an oral antidepressant.

Therefore, when someone searches what is ketamine used to treat and sees information about depression, it is important to ask whether the source is referring to ketamine itself, esketamine, an off-label use, or an approved indication.

What Is Esketamine and How Is It Related to Ketamine?

Esketamine is closely related to ketamine but is not exactly the same medicine.

Ketamine is a mixture containing two mirror-image molecules, commonly referred to as R-ketamine and S-ketamine. Esketamine is the S-enantiomer of ketamine. FDA approved esketamine nasal spray under the brand name SPRAVATO for specific psychiatric indications.

The FDA-approved use of esketamine includes treatment-resistant depression in adults, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant. It is also indicated for depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder and acute suicidal ideation or behavior, again in conjunction with an oral antidepressant.

This distinction is essential when discussing what is ketamine used to treat. Saying “ketamine is FDA-approved for depression” would be inaccurate in the United States. The FDA-approved psychiatric product is esketamine in its approved formulation and under its specific conditions of use.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat When Depression Does Not Respond to Other Medicines?

Treatment-resistant depression refers broadly to depression that has not improved adequately after appropriate treatment attempts. This is one area where ketamine-related therapies have received substantial scientific and clinical attention.

FDA-approved esketamine is specifically indicated for treatment-resistant depression in adults, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant. The medicine is administered under a restricted program because of safety concerns including sedation, dissociation, respiratory depression, and potential misuse or abuse.

Ketamine itself may also be used off-label in some clinical settings for depression. However, the evidence, protocols, patient selection, monitoring requirements, and long-term considerations are not identical to the approved esketamine treatment pathway.

Therefore, the question what is ketamine used to treat should not be answered by simply saying “depression.” A more accurate explanation is that ketamine has an established role as an anesthetic, while ketamine and its related medicine esketamine have been studied or used in specific mental health contexts, with esketamine having an FDA-approved indication for treatment-resistant depression.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Suicidal Depression?

Ketamine has attracted scientific interest because researchers have investigated whether it can produce rapid changes in depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking. However, this subject requires careful interpretation.

FDA-approved esketamine has an indication for depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation or behavior, when used with an oral antidepressant.

This does not mean that ketamine or esketamine should be viewed as a substitute for emergency psychiatric care. A person experiencing suicidal thoughts or immediate danger needs urgent professional support.

It is also important to distinguish between reducing depressive symptoms and eliminating suicide risk. No single medication should be presented as a guaranteed solution to a psychiatric emergency.

When answering what is ketamine used to treat, responsible health information should therefore describe the approved indication precisely rather than making broad claims about suicide prevention.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Chronic Pain?

Ketamine has also been studied and used off-label in some pain-management contexts because of its effects on nervous-system signaling.

However, ketamine is not FDA-approved in the United States as a treatment for chronic pain. FDA specifically notes that although there has been increased interest in ketamine for conditions such as depression and chronic pain, the approved indication for ketamine itself is general anesthesia.

This means that people searching what is ketamine used to treat should be cautious when reading websites that describe ketamine as an officially approved chronic pain medicine.

Some specialist clinicians may consider off-label use in selected situations, but this involves clinical judgment and should not be confused with a standard FDA-approved indication.

The evidence base can also differ depending on the specific pain condition. Research into neuropathic pain, acute pain, chronic pain, and other pain-related conditions has produced different findings, so broad claims about ketamine treating “all pain” would be misleading.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Research?

Ketamine is an important research subject because its pharmacological effects differ from those of many traditional medicines.

Researchers have studied ketamine’s effects on glutamate signaling, neural connectivity, perception, pain processing, depression, and other areas of neuroscience.

Research interest does not necessarily mean a treatment has been proven safe and effective for routine clinical use. Some findings are preliminary, while other areas have more substantial evidence but remain outside formal regulatory approval.

The FDA has specifically discussed the growing interest in emerging uses of ketamine, including depression and chronic pain, while emphasizing the distinction between approved ketamine products and unapproved or compounded uses.

This distinction is particularly important for anyone searching what is ketamine used to treat because online articles can sometimes present research findings as though they were established medical indications.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat Compared With Esketamine?

Ketamine and esketamine are closely related, but they have different regulatory positions.

Ketamine injection is FDA-approved as a general anesthetic. Esketamine nasal spray is FDA-approved for specific psychiatric indications, including treatment-resistant depression in adults when used with an oral antidepressant.

The route of administration is also different. Approved ketamine anesthetic products are injectable, while SPRAVATO is administered as a nasal spray in a certified healthcare setting.

These differences matter because people sometimes use the words “ketamine treatment” and “esketamine treatment” as if they mean exactly the same thing.

They do not necessarily refer to the same medicine, formulation, route, regulatory indication, or clinical protocol.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat and Why Is It Controlled?

Ketamine is a controlled substance in the United States. FDA identifies approved ketamine products as Schedule III controlled substances.

Controlled-substance classification reflects concerns about potential misuse and abuse as well as the need for appropriate medical oversight.

Ketamine can produce dissociation, altered perception, impaired motor function, and other effects. NIDA materials describe ketamine among drugs associated with altered perception and other potentially impairing effects.

This is one reason why people should not use ketamine without medical supervision or obtain unapproved ketamine products from unreliable online sources.

The question what is ketamine used to treat should therefore always be considered alongside another question: how is ketamine being used, and under whose medical supervision?

What Are the Common Effects of Ketamine?

Ketamine can affect consciousness, perception, coordination, and pain processing.

During medically supervised anesthesia, these effects are intentionally produced as part of the procedure. Outside an appropriate medical environment, the same effects can become dangerous.

People may experience dissociation, dizziness, impaired coordination, changes in perception, nausea, or other effects. NIDA identifies altered perceptions, impaired motor function, anxiety, tremors, numbness, memory problems, and nausea among effects associated with ketamine.

The intensity and nature of effects can vary depending on the dose, route of administration, other medicines or substances, and individual characteristics.

For this reason, a person should never assume that a dose used in one medical situation is appropriate for another.

What Are the Safety Concerns With Ketamine?

Understanding what is ketamine used to treat also requires understanding its safety considerations.

Ketamine can cause sedation and dissociation. At higher or inappropriate exposures, it can affect breathing and cardiovascular function. Medical professionals therefore monitor patients when ketamine is administered for anesthesia or other supervised purposes.

Esketamine has its own important safety warnings. FDA’s information identifies risks including sedation, dissociation, respiratory depression, and abuse or misuse. Because of these risks, SPRAVATO is administered through a restricted REMS program and patients are monitored after administration.

These precautions demonstrate why ketamine-related treatment should not be treated like taking an ordinary over-the-counter medicine.

Medical supervision allows clinicians to monitor the patient’s response and intervene if complications occur.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat Without FDA Approval?

The phrase “off-label” is important when discussing what is ketamine used to treat.

Off-label use means a healthcare professional uses an approved medicine in a way that is not specifically included in the drug’s approved labeling, such as for a different condition, dosage, patient population, or route.

FDA recognizes that healthcare professionals may prescribe approved drugs off-label under appropriate circumstances. However, an off-label use is not the same thing as an FDA-approved indication.

Ketamine has received attention for off-label use in depression and pain, but FDA continues to identify its approved use as general anesthesia.

This distinction allows readers to understand both the medical interest in ketamine and the limits of current regulatory approval.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Mental Health Research?

Mental health research involving ketamine has expanded because researchers have observed effects that differ from many conventional antidepressant medicines.

Research has focused particularly on treatment-resistant depression and rapid changes in depressive symptoms. Some studies have reported benefits, but research findings do not automatically establish long-term effectiveness or safety for every patient.

Esketamine received FDA approval after clinical evaluation for treatment-resistant depression, providing a regulated treatment pathway for eligible adults.

Ketamine itself remains different from esketamine from a regulatory perspective in the United States.

Therefore, when someone searches what is ketamine used to treat because they have heard that it can help depression, the most accurate response should mention both the research evidence and the regulatory distinction.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat During Surgery?

Surgery is one of the clearest settings for understanding ketamine’s established use.

FDA-approved ketamine injection can be used as a general anesthetic for diagnostic and surgical procedures. It may be used alone or as an adjunct to other anesthetic agents.

In this setting, clinicians use carefully selected doses and monitor the patient throughout the procedure.

The goal is not to treat an underlying psychiatric condition or chronic disease. Instead, ketamine is being used to create an appropriate anesthetic state for a medical procedure.

This is the most straightforward answer to what is ketamine used to treat when discussing its established FDA-approved indication.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Children?

Ketamine can be used medically in pediatric settings for certain procedures, but its use depends on the clinical situation, patient age, medical history, and local protocols.

Parents and caregivers should not attempt to administer ketamine to children without direct medical supervision.

Because ketamine can affect consciousness, breathing, blood pressure, and perception, pediatric use requires appropriate dosing and monitoring by trained professionals.

The general answer to what is ketamine used to treat therefore does not mean that the medicine is automatically appropriate for every patient group.

Can Ketamine Be Used During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy introduces additional considerations for any medication.

Ketamine should not be used during pregnancy simply because someone has read about its effects online. A healthcare professional must assess whether its potential benefits and risks are appropriate for the specific clinical situation.

People who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding should tell their healthcare professional about their status before receiving ketamine or any related medicine.

The correct answer to what is ketamine used to treat should always be separated from the question of whether a particular individual should receive ketamine.

A medication can have a legitimate medical indication while still being inappropriate for a particular patient.

Can Ketamine Be Used With Other Medicines?

Drug interactions are another important consideration.

Ketamine can interact with other substances that affect the central nervous system. Combining sedating medicines, alcohol, or recreational drugs can increase risks associated with impaired consciousness and breathing.

Esketamine also has specific warnings and monitoring requirements because of its effects on sedation, dissociation, and blood pressure, among other concerns.

Anyone receiving ketamine or esketamine should tell the healthcare professional about prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, supplements, alcohol use, and other substances.

This is especially important because what is ketamine used to treat does not tell us whether it is safe to combine ketamine with another medicine.

Why Should Ketamine Not Be Bought From Unverified Websites?

The growing online interest in ketamine has also created opportunities for misleading or illegal marketing.

FDA has issued warning letters to websites marketing unapproved ketamine products, including products described as ketamine liquids, gummies, troches, powders, and other formulations. FDA has emphasized that approved ketamine products are not the same as these unapproved products.

This is particularly important for people searching what is ketamine used to treat and then looking for ketamine online.

A website claiming that ketamine can treat a wide range of conditions does not establish that the product is approved, genuine, appropriately manufactured, or medically appropriate.

Prescription medicines should be obtained through legitimate healthcare and pharmacy channels.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat and What Does It Not Treat?

It is equally important to understand the limits of ketamine.

Ketamine is not a universal treatment for every mental health disorder, every pain condition, or every neurological problem.

Its established FDA-approved role in the United States is as a general anesthetic. Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved for psychiatric disorders, while esketamine has specific approved psychiatric indications.

Ketamine may be studied or used off-label in certain circumstances, but the evidence and regulatory status vary by condition.

This is why a responsible article about what is ketamine used to treat should avoid broad claims such as “ketamine treats depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, and addiction” without explaining the difference between approved, off-label, and experimental uses.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Addiction Research?

Ketamine has been investigated in research involving substance-use disorders and addiction-related conditions.

However, these research areas should not be confused with established FDA-approved indications.

A research finding can suggest that a medicine deserves further investigation without demonstrating that it should become routine treatment.

People with substance-use disorders should seek evidence-based addiction treatment from qualified professionals rather than attempting to self-treat with ketamine.

When discussing what is ketamine used to treat, it is particularly important to avoid presenting early research as an established treatment recommendation.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Anxiety Disorders?

Ketamine has also been studied in relation to anxiety symptoms and disorders, particularly because of its effects on glutamate signaling and its relationship with depression research.

However, ketamine itself is not FDA-approved as a general treatment for anxiety disorders.

Some clinicians may consider off-label approaches in selected circumstances, but the appropriateness of such treatment depends on the individual and the available evidence.

Therefore, if someone searches what is ketamine used to treat and sees anxiety listed on an online clinic’s website, that claim should be evaluated carefully. Marketing language is not the same as regulatory approval or strong clinical evidence.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in PTSD Research?

Post-traumatic stress disorder has also been investigated in ketamine research.

Some studies have examined whether ketamine may affect symptoms associated with PTSD, but research interest does not mean ketamine is an FDA-approved PTSD treatment.

People with PTSD should receive assessment and treatment from qualified mental health professionals who can consider established evidence-based therapies and individual circumstances.

The distinction between research and approved treatment remains central to answering what is ketamine used to treat accurately.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat in Migraine or Headache Research?

Ketamine has been investigated for certain severe headache and pain conditions, but this does not mean it is a standard approved treatment for headaches or migraine.

Evidence can vary significantly between specific headache disorders and clinical circumstances.

Patients with recurring or severe headaches should receive an appropriate diagnosis rather than trying ketamine based on an online claim.

Again, what is ketamine used to treat and what might ketamine be studied for are two different questions.

How Is Ketamine Administered Medically?

The route of administration depends on the medical purpose and product.

FDA-approved ketamine products are injectable. Approved esketamine for treatment-resistant depression is administered as a nasal spray through a controlled healthcare program.

Other ketamine formulations may exist in research or compounding contexts, but consumers should not assume that a formulation sold online has the same regulatory status or safety profile as an FDA-approved product.

Route of administration can affect absorption, onset, duration, and safety monitoring requirements.

This is another reason why the question what is ketamine used to treat should be considered together with the specific medicine and formulation being discussed.

What Happens During Supervised Ketamine Treatment?

When ketamine is administered medically, healthcare professionals determine the appropriate dose and monitor the patient’s response.

Depending on the purpose of treatment, monitoring may include consciousness, breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and other relevant clinical measures.

For esketamine, FDA requires administration in a certified healthcare setting with monitoring for at least two hours after administration because of risks such as sedation and dissociation.

This supervised approach is fundamentally different from taking ketamine without professional oversight.

People should also arrange appropriate transportation and follow the healthcare provider’s instructions because sedation and altered perception can temporarily impair normal activities.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat and How Quickly Does It Work?

The time course depends heavily on the purpose of treatment, formulation, route, and individual circumstances.

As an anesthetic, ketamine can act relatively quickly when administered appropriately by medical professionals.

In depression research, ketamine has attracted attention partly because some studies have reported relatively rapid changes in depressive symptoms compared with traditional antidepressants. However, rapid symptom improvement does not mean the effect is permanent, and the appropriate treatment plan depends on the individual.

Esketamine also has a specific clinical dosing and monitoring schedule under its approved indication.

Therefore, what is ketamine used to treat should not be answered with a promise that the medicine will work immediately or produce the same response in everyone.

What Is Ketamine Used to Treat: Understanding the Evidence

Medical evidence exists on a spectrum.

Some uses are well established and formally approved. Other uses have moderate or growing evidence but remain off-label. Still others are mainly research questions.

Ketamine’s use as an anesthetic is an established medical application. Ketamine’s potential role in depression and pain has generated substantial research and clinical interest, while esketamine has a specific FDA-approved role in certain depressive disorders.

This distinction allows patients to understand what is known without exaggerating what is uncertain.

When reading online health information about what is ketamine used to treat, look for clear statements about the source of evidence, regulatory status, patient population, and whether a claim refers to ketamine or esketamine.

FAQs

What is ketamine used to treat?

The primary FDA-approved use of ketamine in the United States is as a general anesthetic for diagnostic and surgical procedures. Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved for treating psychiatric disorders, although it has been studied and used off-label in some settings. Esketamine, a related medicine, has FDA-approved indications for certain adults with treatment-resistant depression and depressive symptoms associated with major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation or behavior, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant.

Is ketamine used to treat depression?

Ketamine has been studied and used off-label for depression, particularly treatment-resistant depression, but ketamine itself is not FDA-approved in the United States as a psychiatric treatment. Esketamine, which is derived from ketamine, is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression in adults when used with an oral antidepressant.

Is ketamine a pain medicine?

Ketamine has anesthetic and analgesic properties and has been studied or used off-label in certain pain-management settings. However, FDA identifies ketamine’s approved indication as general anesthesia rather than chronic pain treatment. Any off-label pain use should be determined and monitored by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Is ketamine safe?

Ketamine can be used safely in appropriate medical settings when administered and monitored by trained professionals, but it has important risks. Effects can include sedation, dissociation, altered perception, impaired coordination, and other adverse effects. Esketamine carries specific warnings concerning sedation, dissociation, respiratory depression, and misuse or abuse.

Is esketamine the same as ketamine?

Esketamine is closely related to ketamine but is not exactly the same medicine. Esketamine is the S-enantiomer of ketamine and is available as an FDA-approved nasal spray for specific psychiatric indications. Ketamine itself is FDA-approved as an injectable general anesthetic.

Final Thoughts on What Is Ketamine Used to Treat

The question what is ketamine used to treat has a more nuanced answer than many online articles suggest.

Ketamine is an established medical anesthetic. FDA-approved ketamine injection products are used as general anesthetics for diagnostic and surgical procedures. Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved in the United States for treating psychiatric disorders, although researchers and clinicians have investigated and sometimes used it off-label for conditions such as depression and certain pain conditions.

Esketamine is different. It is a related form of ketamine that is FDA-approved as a nasal spray for specific psychiatric indications, including treatment-resistant depression in adults when used with an oral antidepressant. It also has an indication for depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder accompanied by acute suicidal ideation or behavior, again in combination with an oral antidepressant.

The distinction between ketamine and esketamine, as well as the distinction between approved and off-label use, is essential for understanding what is ketamine used to treat.

Ketamine also carries important safety considerations. It is a controlled substance, can cause sedation and dissociation, and has potential for misuse and abuse. Approved esketamine treatment therefore involves a restricted healthcare program and post-administration monitoring.

Anyone considering ketamine-related treatment should discuss their medical history, current medicines, mental health status, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, and treatment goals with a qualified healthcare professional. Ketamine should not be purchased from unverified online sources or used without appropriate medical supervision.

Ultimately, understanding what is ketamine used to treat means looking beyond a simple list of conditions. It means understanding what ketamine is officially approved for, what researchers are investigating, how esketamine differs from ketamine, what risks are involved, and why professional medical supervision matters. Accurate information can help readers approach ketamine and other prescription medicines with realistic expectations and make informed healthcare decisions.