| ketamine | <chemical> A cyclohexanone derivative used as an intravenous anaesthetic. Ketamine produces a dissociative anaesthesia in which the patient is not asleep but does not respond appropriately to environmental stimuli, including pain. Upon revival, the patient does not remember what occurred under the influence of the drug. Its mechanism of action is not well understood, but ketamine can block nmda receptors (receptors, n-methyl-d-aspartate) and may interact with sigma receptors. Pharmacological action: anaesthetics, dissociative, excitatory amino acid antagonists. Chemical name: Cyclohexanone, 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)-, (+-)- (12 Dec 1998) |
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