Ketamine receptor effects

Most intravenous anesthetic agents increasing inhibatory throughdirect stimulation or potentiation GABA-mediated inhibatory tone. Ketanmine does NOT interact directly with the GABA recepror. Ketamine dose interacts with multiple other targets, including NMDAand non-NMDA glutamate receptors, nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic, monoaminergic, and opioid receptors. In addition, interactions with voltage-dependent ion channels such as Na and L-type Ca channels have been described. While all of these interactions may be important, it is thought that its action as anon-competitive antagoist at the NMDA receptoraccount forKetamine’sanalgesic, amnestic, and psychotomimetic effects.