Ketamine Glossary
Definitions and plain-language explainers for ketamine therapy terms, clinical measures, medications, and research concepts.
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3 articles
Norketamine: Ketamine's Primary Metabolite Explained
What norketamine is, its half-life, pharmacological activity vs parent ketamine, and why this metabolite is central to how oral and sublingual ketamine work.
Enantiomer: Definition and Relevance to Ketamine
A definition of enantiomers — mirror-image molecular forms — and their critical importance in understanding ketamine's two forms: esketamine (S-ketamine) and arketamine (R-ketamine).
Schedule III Controlled Substance: Ketamine's DEA Classification Explained
Why ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance: DEA criteria, prescribing rules, refill limits, telehealth implications, and how it compares to II and IV.
Norketamine: Ketamine's Primary Metabolite Explained
What norketamine is, its half-life, pharmacological activity vs parent ketamine, and why this metabolite is central to how oral and sublingual ketamine work.
Enantiomer: Definition and Relevance to Ketamine
A definition of enantiomers — mirror-image molecular forms — and their critical importance in understanding ketamine's two forms: esketamine (S-ketamine) and arketamine (R-ketamine).
Schedule III Controlled Substance: Ketamine's DEA Classification Explained
Why ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance: DEA criteria, prescribing rules, refill limits, telehealth implications, and how it compares to II and IV.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): The Brain's Primary Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
A definition of GABA — the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter — and its relationship to ketamine's mechanism of action and therapeutic effects.
First-Pass Metabolism: How Liver Processing Affects Oral Ketamine
A definition of first-pass metabolism — the hepatic processing that reduces oral drug bioavailability — and its specific impact on oral ketamine formulations.
Sub-Anesthetic Dose: The Therapeutic Range for Ketamine in Depression
A definition of sub-anesthetic dosing — the low-dose ketamine range used to treat depression — including typical dosages, rationale, and how it differs from anesthetic use.
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD): Definition, Criteria, and Significance for Ketamine
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) defined: clinical criteria, the two-failed-trials threshold, and why TRD is the primary indication for ketamine therapy.
Racemic Mixture: S-Ketamine and R-Ketamine Enantiomers Explained
A definition of racemic mixture in the context of ketamine therapy — explaining the S and R enantiomers, their different pharmacological profiles, and clinical implications.
Compounding Pharmacy: Custom Ketamine Formulations Explained
How compounding pharmacies prepare ketamine: troches, lozenges, nasal sprays, 503A vs 503B oversight, FDA limits, and what to ask before ordering.
Serotonin Syndrome: Risks, Symptoms, and Relevance to Ketamine Therapy
Serotonin syndrome explained: symptoms, drug combinations that trigger it, and why patients on SSRIs or MAOIs need to discuss the risk before starting ketamine.
mTOR Pathway: Ketamine's Role in Protein Synthesis and Synaptic Growth
A definition of the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling pathway and its critical role in how ketamine promotes rapid synaptogenesis and antidepressant effects.
Glutamatergic System: The Excitatory Signaling Network Behind Ketamine's Effects
An overview of the glutamatergic system — the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter network — and its central role in how ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects.
Default Mode Network: How Ketamine Disrupts Depressive Thought Patterns
An explanation of the default mode network (DMN), its role in rumination and depression, and how ketamine modulates DMN activity to relieve depressive symptoms.
AMPA Receptor: Its Role in Ketamine's Antidepressant Effect
A glossary entry on the AMPA receptor, explaining what it is, how it functions, and why its activation is essential to ketamine's rapid antidepressant mechanism.
Arketamine (R-Ketamine): The Promising Enantiomer Under Investigation
Learn about arketamine (R-ketamine), the less-studied enantiomer of ketamine showing promise as a next-generation antidepressant with fewer side effects.
Bioavailability: Understanding Ketamine Absorption by Route
A clear explanation of bioavailability and how it varies across ketamine administration routes — IV, IM, intranasal, sublingual, and oral — and why it matters.
Synaptogenesis: How Ketamine Promotes New Synaptic Connections
Synaptogenesis explained: how ketamine triggers new synaptic connections via BDNF and mTOR signaling, and why this drives lasting antidepressant effects.
Esketamine: The S-Enantiomer Behind Spravato
A glossary entry on esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine marketed as Spravato, covering its pharmacology, FDA approval, and clinical significance.
BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor): Definition and Role in Ketamine Therapy
Learn what BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) is, how it supports brain health, and why it is central to ketamine's rapid antidepressant mechanism.
Glutamate: The Excitatory Neurotransmitter Central to Ketamine's Action
Glutamate, the brain's excitatory neurotransmitter, and why its post-NMDA-blockade surge is central to how ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects.
Neuroplasticity
What neuroplasticity means, how the brain rewires itself, and why neuroplasticity is central to understanding ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects.
Dissociation
What dissociation means in the context of ketamine therapy — its clinical definition, how it manifests during treatment, and its potential relationship to therapeutic outcomes.
NMDA Receptor
A comprehensive definition and explanation of the NMDA receptor — its role in the brain, its relevance to ketamine therapy, and why it matters for mental health treatment.