Ketamine-From an Anesthetic to a Psychiatric Drug: Mechanisms of Action, Clinical Applications and Potential Risks.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) June 30, 2025 Ewa Gibuła-Tarłowska, Anna Wiszniewska, Magdalena Turyk et al. 10 citations
Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, also provides potent pain relief by blocking NMDA receptors, which helps reduce chronic and neuropathic pain. It shows promise for treating substance use disorder by disrupting maladaptive reward memories and promoting neuroplasticity. Additionally, S-ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression, likely through increased glutamatergic signaling and synaptic plasticity. This broad therapeutic profile makes ketamine a unique agent spanning anesthesia, pain management, addiction medicine, and psychiatry, though further research into its mechanisms and long-term effectiveness is needed.