Stability of Ketamine and Its Metabolites Norketamine and Dehydronorketamine in Human Biological Samples

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Abstract
Ketamine is a NMDA receptor antagonist used since 1970 for the induction of anesthesia. It has a rapid onset and short duration of action, so it is a preferred agent for short-term surgical procedures. Ketamine possesses sedative and analgesic properties and maintains hemodynamic stability; it therefore is used in patients during the neuro-reanimation period ( 1). Ketamine produces posthypnotic emergence reactions, such as prolonged hallucination and delirium. The frequency of ketamine abuse is increasing ( 2), and fatal ketamine poisoning cases have been reported ( 3)( 4).