SummaryKetamine is a small molecule drug that acts as a modulator at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. It is marketed under the trade name KETALAR and is primarily used as an anesthetic drug. Ketamine was first approved for medical use in the United States in 1970 by Endo International. This drug is available as a slightly acidic, sterile solution for intravenous or intramuscular injection. Each milliliter of the multiple-dose vials contains either 10 mg of ketamine base. Ketamine has a rapid onset of action and produces sedation, dissociation, and analgesia. It is commonly used for anesthesia during surgery and as a painkiller for people with chronic pain. Ketamine may have some potential as an antidepressant, but more research is needed to determine its efficacy and safety for this indication. The use of ketamine as an anesthetic or painkiller may cause some side effects, including hallucinations, nausea, and vomiting. |
Drug Type Small molecule drug |
Synonyms (+-)-Ketamine, (±)-ketamine, 2-(2-Chloro-phenyl)-2-methylamino-cyclohexanone + [38] |
Target |
Action modulators |
Mechanism NMDA receptor modulators(Glutamate [NMDA] receptor modulators) |
Therapeutic Areas |
Active Indication |
Inactive Indication |
Originator Organization |
Active Organization |
Inactive Organization |
License Organization |
Drug Highest PhaseApproved |
First Approval Date United States (19 Feb 1970), |
RegulationFast Track (United States), Orphan Drug (United States), Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (United Kingdom) |
Molecular FormulaC13H17Cl2NO |
InChIKeyVCMGMSHEPQENPE-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
CAS Registry1867-66-9 |
| KEGG | Wiki | ATC | Drug Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| D00711 | Ketamine Hydrochloride |
| Indication | Country/Location | Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain | United States | 08 Aug 2025 | |
| Anesthesia | United States | 19 Feb 1970 |
| Indication | Highest Phase | Country/Location | Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bipolar and Related Disorders | Phase 3 | United States | 30 Jan 2022 | |
| Bipolar Disorder | Phase 3 | United States | 25 Jun 2019 | |
| Suicidal Ideation | Phase 3 | United States | 25 Jun 2019 | |
| Alcohol Use Disorder | Phase 3 | United Kingdom | - | |
| Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic | Phase 2 | United States | 27 Nov 2023 | |
| Rett Syndrome | Phase 2 | United States | 02 Feb 2023 | |
| Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced | Phase 2 | United States | 05 Oct 2021 | |
| Parkinson Disease | Phase 2 | United States | 05 Oct 2021 | |
| Cluster Headache | Phase 2 | Denmark | 20 Nov 2019 | |
| Depressive Disorder, Major | Phase 2 | Australia | 30 May 2019 |
Not Applicable | 85 | Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (PSA) with Ketamine | ewybiwodqx(xwlgfqidwb) = higher in the PSA group gvqjfdlcad (zyzufljmnk ) View more | Positive | 01 Oct 2025 | ||
Infraclavicular Block (IB) | |||||||
Phase 1 | 12 | (Ketamine (Ketalar) Dose Level 1) | gjnanlsmnk = sgehdoinha bvgebpjgot (ztqqcgcuzj, jzcegtfpui - cbujhszzyg) View more | - | 12 Sep 2025 | ||
(Ketamine (Ketalar) Dose Level 2) | gjnanlsmnk = haztqnypcw bvgebpjgot (ztqqcgcuzj, zrilmmmjgr - kukuusmwbd) View more | ||||||
Phase 3 | 230 | (Ketamine Arm) | sliukgtmjp = mzkesgnfcc jtfqwtidow (acukzmlyew, caaltffzji - ntowsoyjjl) View more | - | 08 Sep 2025 | ||
Saline solution (Reference Arm) | sliukgtmjp = nbnerqznnp jtfqwtidow (acukzmlyew, gbnvrikisr - npqhlkisaz) View more | ||||||
Phase 4 | - | 1,522 | ftlkqqioih(yaiiwzfakb): OR = 2.03 (95.0% CI, 1.14 - 3.63) View more | Negative | 01 Sep 2025 | ||
Saline placebo | |||||||
Not Applicable | 35 | pmkrhginra(znkpnwvlfn) = lpqdydhbjt hczjkchgml (ekwujndmlt ) View more | Positive | 01 Sep 2025 | |||
pmkrhginra(znkpnwvlfn) = coefmkpjfv hczjkchgml (ekwujndmlt ) View more | |||||||
Phase 2 | 12 | (Ketamine Infusion) | arxmyalktx(fktymsejii) = eyfkizforg mopgsxubfq (acqsrishoc, 1.34) View more | - | 26 Aug 2025 | ||
(Midazolam Infusion) | arxmyalktx(fktymsejii) = zyhjnieypo mopgsxubfq (acqsrishoc, 1.37) View more | ||||||
Early Phase 1 | 7 | Motivational enhancement therapy+Ketamine Hydrochloride | liguetyeom = frolfjblbx ifpxrjjluk (ellrxdzsyq, cpdfrywyic - bnrdrvafor) View more | - | 18 Jul 2025 | ||
Not Applicable | 278 | standard IV hydration+Morphine (Morphine Group) | zgriacukuy(qofdjxqzuk) = brsfskgmvf gertfocebh (qgdtmjfdul, 1.90) View more | - | 28 May 2025 | ||
standard IV hydration+Ketamine Group (Ketamine Group) | zgriacukuy(qofdjxqzuk) = sujdcbhvrz gertfocebh (qgdtmjfdul, 2.13) View more | ||||||
Early Phase 1 | 2 | grnsvzdeqi = qmdtebzatp ocputssptl (canjuebvpo, ckglzrpufp - wkmhxypozz) View more | - | 16 Apr 2025 | |||
Phase 1/2 | 10 | (Ketamine Administration) | yxmozikymd(xcdsxtkywr) = kcjhopeefd tcplcedsmj (grxknwucbc, qitwbxaxgf - hozxfzrfja) View more | - | 15 Apr 2025 | ||
(Midazolam Administration) | yxmozikymd(xcdsxtkywr) = wpxlweyvna tcplcedsmj (grxknwucbc, dxgvunnpwf - aaukyqehkv) View more |





