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AHFS/Drugs.com | Consumer Drug Information |
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Pregnancy category |
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Addiction liability |
Low–moderate |
Routes of administration |
IV, IM, insufflated, by mouth, intraosseous, intranasal, topical |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Metabolism | Liver, primarily by CYP3A4 |
Onset of action | < 5min (IM, IV), < 30min (by mouth) |
Biological half-life | 2.5–3 hours |
Duration of action | less than one hour |
Excretion | Kidney (>90%) |
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UNII | |
KEGG | |
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.027.095 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C13H16ClNO |
Molar mass | 237.725 g/mol |
3D model (Jmol) | |
Chirality | Racemic mixture |
Melting point | 262 °C (504 °F) |
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Ketamine, sold under the brand name Ketalar among others, is a medication mainly used for starting and maintaining anesthesia. It induces a trance-like state while providing pain relief, sedation, and memory loss. Other uses include for chronic pain and for sedation in intensive care. Heart function, breathing, and airway reflexes generally remain functional. Effects typically begin within five minutes when given by injection with the main effects lasting up to 25 minutes.
Common side effects include psychological reactions as the medication wears off. These reactions may include agitation, confusion, or hallucinations. Elevated blood pressure and muscle tremors are relatively common, while low blood pressure and a decrease in breathing are less so.Spasms of the larynx may rarely occur. Ketamine has been classified as an NMDA receptor antagonist; it also acts on opioid receptors and monoamine transporters among others.
Ketamine was discovered in 1962. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. It is available as a generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world is between 0.08 and 0.32 USD per dose. Ketamine is also used as a recreational drug.