Ketamine as an NMDA receptor antagonist].

Tetsuya Kushikata, Kazuyoshi Hirota

Department of Anaesthesiology, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki 036-8563.

Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology 2013 Jan

filter terms:

Ketamine was first used in humans over 40 years ago. Since then, ketamine has not been always used in anesthetic practice because of its unique pharmacological properties such as sympathomimetic or psychomimetic effect. However, more interest in ketamine developed recently as ketamine reduces hyperalgesia due to opiate tolerance and may be potential neuroprotectives or antidepressants. These pharmacological actions are based on property of ketamine as an NMDA receptor antagonist. We describe basic NMDA receptor function and possible action of ketamine via the receptor.