Ketamine - 3

Metabolism

Ketamine is metabolized by the hepatic microsomal system.

Major pathway:
ketamine N-demethylation -> norketamine
ketamine norketamine
(metabolite I)
Norketamine, with 20-30% of the activity of ketamine, is hydroxlyated to hydoxynorketamine, conjugated with glucuronate and excreted in the urine. Norketamine, with t1/2(elimination) = 6 hours, probably contributes significantly to analgesia.



Greg Gordon MD
Updated: