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NCI Drug Dictionary


ketamine hydrochloride 
The hydrochloride salt of a synthetic derivative of cyclohexanone with analgesic and anesthetic activities. Although its mechanism of action is not well understood, ketamine appears to non-competitively block N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and may interact with opiod mu receptors and sigma receptors, thereby reducing pain perception, inducing sedation, and producing dissociative anesthesia. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
US brand name:Ketalar