NMDA Antagonist Neurotoxicity: Mechanism and Prevention
Science December 6, 1991 J. W. Olney, J. Labruyere, G. Wang et al. 850 citations
Drugs that block NMDA glutamate receptors, such as PCP and ketamine, protect the brain from damage in conditions like stroke, but they also cause psychotic-like symptoms in humans and damage neurons in the rat cerebral cortex. This damage can be prevented by certain anticholinergic drugs or by diazepam and barbiturates, which act on GABA receptors and also suppress the psychotic symptoms caused by ketamine. These findings suggest it may be possible to block the unwanted side effects of NMDA antagonists, making them more useful as neuroprotective treatments.