Ketamine Research Reference

Catalog classification, reference sizes, lab math links, and source-backed data. Educational use only — not medical advice.

Researched for: Vendor-neutral scientific reference catalog record for PepTools

Dissociative general anesthetic; noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist; U.S. Schedule III controlled substance compound Reference approved

Also known as: ketamine hydrochloride, racemic ketamine, Ketalar, Ketaset, Special K

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Quick Facts

Reference Sizes

200 mg/20 mL (10 mg/mL) multidose vial, 500 mg/10 mL (50 mg/mL) multidose vial, 500 mg/5 mL (100 mg/mL) multidose vial

Components

Ketamine base or ketamine hydrochloride salt; injectable formulations may contain benzethonium chloride preservative and, for some concentrations, sodium chloride

Storage

For KETALAR ketamine hydrochloride injection: store at 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), with excursions permitted between 15–30 °C (59–86 °F); protect from light.

Catalog Description

Ketamine is a cyclohexanone anesthetic commonly supplied clinically as ketamine hydrochloride. FDA labeling describes ketamine hydrochloride as a nonbarbiturate general anesthetic and a racemic mixture that produces a dissociative anesthetic state with analgesia. Its principal mechanism is noncompetitive antagonism of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. In the United States, ketamine is listed as a Schedule III controlled substance.

Catalog descriptions reflect research context only. Not a medical claim or treatment recommendation.

Research Profile

Half-Life

After intravenous administration, the initial alpha-phase half-life is approximately 10–15 minutes; the beta-phase redistribution half-life is approximately 2.5 hours.

Onset

FDA labeling reports surgical anesthesia within approximately 30 seconds after intravenous administration at an average induction dose of 2 mg/kg, and usually within 3–4 minutes after intramuscular administration of 9–13 mg/kg. These are labeled anesthetic-study reference values, not individualized dosing guidance.

Administration Routes (Research)

intravenousintramuscular

Reported Research Effects

Rapid-onset dissociative anesthesia
Analgesia
NMDA receptor antagonism
Transient increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output may occur
Emergence reactions, including vivid imagery, hallucinations, agitation, or postoperative confusion, are described in labeling
Respiratory depression may occur with overdose or rapid administration

Reflects preclinical/research literature context only. Not a medical claim, dosing instruction, or treatment recommendation.

Research Notes

FDA-approved injectable ketamine hydrochloride is indicated as a sole anesthetic for diagnostic or surgical procedures not requiring skeletal muscle relaxation, for induction before other general anesthetics, and as a supplement to other anesthetic agents. Administration requires personnel experienced with general anesthesia, airway management, oxygenation, and ventilation, with continuous monitoring and emergency airway equipment available. Ketamine hydrochloride injection is not equivalent to esketamine and should not be treated as an interchangeable compound record.

Supplementary research context only. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.

Registry Identifiers

CAS RN 6740-88-1; PubChem CID 3821; free-base molecular formula C13H16ClNO; ketamine hydrochloride molecular formula C13H16ClNO·HCl; ketamine hydrochloride molecular weight 274.19 g/mol; IUPAC name 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexan-1-one; InChIKey YQEZLKZALYSWHR-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Source-Backed Observations

Clinical injectable products are labeled by ketamine-base equivalent strength. FDA-labeled concentrations include 10 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, and 100 mg/mL ketamine base. The 100 mg/mL concentration requires dilution before intravenous administration according to the prescribing information. Ketamine is metabolized primarily to the active metabolite norketamine through CYP-mediated N-dealkylation.

Reflects published research. Educational reference — not a recommendation for use.

Sources

KETALAR (ketamine hydrochloride) injection, FDA prescribing information, revised March 2026
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2026/016812s057lbl.pdf (accessed 2026-09-26)

Ketamine hydrochloride injection labeling
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=b96a0a23-3ca0-4a92-bd8b-1e9921931772&version=6 (accessed 2026-09-26)

Ketamine, PubChem Compound Summary CID 3821
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/ketamine (accessed 2026-09-26)

Drug Scheduling
https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling (accessed 2026-09-26)

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Research Use Only. All content is for educational and research reference only. Not medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or guidance on human use. Compounds are not FDA-approved drugs unless specifically noted.