Pharmacological properties of ketamine.
J M White, C F Ryan
Drug and Alcohol Review June 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1080/09595239600185801 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key findings | Ketamine produces its effects mainly through NMDA receptor antagonism and catecholamine enhancement, but its recreational use and dependence potential are poorly understood. |
Abstract
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that is being used in non-medical contexts. The effects of ketamine are very similar to those of phencyclidine, another dissociative anaesthetic that has enjoyed considerable popularity as a recreational drug. The effects of ketamine include analgesia, cardiovascular and respiratory stimulation, dissociation, hallucinations and anaesthesia. The potential dangers of uncontrolled ketamine use include psychosis and violence, accidents and marked psychomotor and cognitive impairment. Although studies have shown potential for tolerance to and physical dependence on ketamine, further investigation of these phenomena is needed. Ketamine is thought to produce most of its effects through antagonist activity at the PCP site of the NMDA receptor complex. Ketamine has sympathomimetic properties resulting from enhancement of catecholamine, and particularly dopamine, activity. While opioid receptor activity has been identified, this is relatively weak and the contribution to the effects of ketamine is not clear. Although much is known of the clinical uses and effects of ketamine, as yet little is understood of ketamine as a recreational drug and potential drug of dependence.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine and Ketamine Metabolite Pharmacology: Insights into Therapeutic Mechanisms | 2018 | Review | |
| Mechanisms of Ketamine Action as an Antidepressant | 2018 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Ketamine Pharmacology: An Update (Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Aspects, Recent Findings) | 2013 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement |
Citations in the library
Cited by 15
- Antidepressant Efficacy of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Two-Site Randomized Controlled Trial American Journal of Psychiatry August 28, 2013
- The Role of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review Current Neuropharmacology November 12, 2014
- A Review of the Nonmedical Use of Ketamine: Use, Users and Consequences Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 1, 2000
- A REVIEW OF KETAMINE ABUSE AND DIVERSION Depression and Anxiety August 1, 2016
- Psilocin and ketamine microdosing: effects of subchronic intermittent microdoses in the elevated plus-maze in male Wistar rats Behavioural Pharmacology March 13, 2018
and 10 more in the library
Cites 7
- Subanesthetic Effects of the Noncompetitive NMDA Antagonist, Ketamine, in Humans Archives of General Psychiatry March 1, 1994
- Recent advances in the phencyclidine model of schizophrenia American Journal of Psychiatry October 1, 1991
- Neuroscience and the Near-Death Experience: Roles for the NMSA-PCP receptor, the sigma receptor and the endopsychosins Medical Hypotheses 1990
- Effects of ketamine on sensory perception: evidence for a role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics March 1, 1992
- [3H]1-[2-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine labels two high-affinity binding sites in human cortex: further evidence for phencyclidine binding sites associated with the biogenic amine reuptake complex. Synapse August 1, 1991
and 2 more in the library