Pharmacology
Ketamine is a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist. Its antidepressant effects are thought to involve downstream glutamate signaling and rapid synaptogenesis rather than direct monoamine action.
Dissociative · NMDA antagonist
Ketamine
A dissociative anesthetic in clinical use since the 1970s, now widely studied and prescribed for treatment-resistant depression.
History & context
Developed as a safer alternative to phencyclidine for anesthesia, ketamine remains on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and has an established safety profile in supervised settings.
Research landscape
Intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine are approved or widely used for depression; research continues on dosing intervals, durability, and combination with psychotherapy.
Risks
Dependence potential, bladder and urinary tract damage with frequent heavy use, dissociation, and elevated blood pressure.
Educational reference only. Nothing here is medical advice or a recommendation to use any substance.
More compounds