Ketamine renaissance: Expanding horizons from anesthesia to depression and pain
Asian Journal of Medical Sciences June 30, 2026 Raja Suhail Shounthoo, Ajaiz Rasool, Athar Un Nisa Quraishi et al.
Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic developed in the 1960s, is experiencing a resurgence as a treatment for depression and pain. Unlike standard antidepressants that target monoamine systems, ketamine works by modulating glutamate, a key neurotransmitter, and enhancing synaptic plasticity. It shows rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression and effectiveness for both acute and chronic pain. However, significant concerns remain about long-term safety, lack of standardized protocols, and potential for misuse. This review examines ketamine's expanding roles in anesthesia, psychiatry, and pain medicine, highlighting its mechanisms, clinical uses, safety issues, and gaps in current evidence.