Journal of Health & Medical Informatics

Non-Anesthetic Effects of Ketamine: A Review Article Authors

Abstract

Jabril Eldufani, Alireza Nekoui, Gilbert Blaise

Ketamine is considered a dissociative anesthetic medication, and it is a commonly administered by a parenteral route. It works mainly by blocking the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. It inhibits the voltage-gated Na_ and K_ channels and serotonin and dopamine re-uptake; also, it affects specific receptors, such as α-amino-3-hydroxy- 5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), kainite and amino butyric acid A receptors. Ketamine appears to have particular mechanisms that are potentially involved during analgesic induction, including enhancing of descending inhibition and anti-inflammatory effects. More recently, it has been shown that ketamine has potential in clinical practice for the management of chronic pain, cognitive function, depression, acute brain injury and disorders of the immune system.