What's the Difference Between Ketamine Troches, Rapid Dissolve Tablets and Lozenges?

Not that long ago, if a person wanted to utilize ketamine therapy they only had one administration option - an IV drip in a doctor’s office. As the therapy has advanced the ketamine treatment options have expanded. The development of sublingual ketamine medications that are taken orally has profoundly changed not just how the therapy is administered but where it can be taken and how many people have access to it. 

Ketamine troches, lozenges and rapid dissolve tablets can all be taken orally at home under, but they have some distinct differences that are good to know before you begin treatment. 

Ketamine Troches

Many people have heard about ketamine troches because they were some of the first oral ketamine medications. A ketamine troches is a tablet that must be placed under the tongue and held there for at least 10 minutes to be absorbed in the mouth. 

Whatever is remaining at that time should be spit out to avoid increased risk of nausea and an unintentional delayed reaction. The effects should set in about 20 minutes after the initial absorption under the tongue.

Ketamine Lozenges

A lozenge is basically like a cough drop. Ketamine lozenges are essentially the same as troches, it’s just a different name for the same type of medication. So if you see ketamine lozenges mentioned, know that it’s synonymous with ketamine troches. 

Rapid Dissolve Ketamine Tablets

As the name suggests, the key difference with rapid dissolve ketamine tablets is how quickly they work. Instead of holding the medication under your tongue for 10 minutes, ketamine rapid dissolve tablets are absorbed on top of the tongue within a minute. You then swish the saliva around in your mouth for a minute before swallowing. There’s no waiting or worrying about accidentally swallowing the tablet and getting hit with a stronger dose than expected. 

Another advantage to the rapid dissolve ketamine tablets is better absorption. Oral ketamine treatments are absorbed by the lining of the mouth, which allows the medication to enter the bloodstream. The absorption rate with ketamine troches is approximately 30%. However, this varies in large part because of the timing and possibility of swallowing too much or too little of the medication. Rapid dissolve ketamine tablets should have a much more consistent absorption rate since those factors aren’t involved. Research shows that rapid dissolving ketamine tablets have a consistent absorption rate between 30-34%. 

Ketamine troches, lozenges and rapid dissolve tablets will all facilitate therapy that can have a transformative effect on your mental health and wellbeing. Plus, sublingual ketamine medications are very safe to take, even if the troches is swallowed or the medication is taken long-term. This is true for ketamine dosages up to 600 mg. Sublingual ketamine is considered to be safer than IV treatments because there’s no risk of infection, and it’s easy to control the dosing based on how the patient responds to initial treatment.

Choose Your Horizon physicians prefer to use rapid dissolve tablets. They are more convenient for the patient, provide more consistent absorption and can help avoid possible side effects like nausea. If you’re interested in learning more about how ketamine therapy works or the rapid dissolve tablets that are used, please contact our team for one-on-one assistance.