Last reviewed · How we verify
Morphine plus Ketamine
Morphine and ketamine together provide analgesia through complementary pathways: morphine acts as an opioid receptor agonist while ketamine blocks NMDA receptors, potentially reducing opioid tolerance and enhancing pain relief.
Morphine and ketamine together provide analgesia through complementary pathways: morphine acts as an opioid receptor agonist while ketamine blocks NMDA receptors, potentially reducing opioid tolerance and enhancing pain relief. Used for Moderate to severe pain (phase 3 indication under investigation).
At a glance
| Generic name | Morphine plus Ketamine |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco |
| Drug class | Opioid analgesic combined with NMDA receptor antagonist |
| Target | Mu-opioid receptor (morphine); NMDA receptor (ketamine) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Pain Management |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Morphine binds to mu-opioid receptors to reduce pain perception and emotional response to pain. Ketamine antagonizes NMDA glutamate receptors, which are involved in pain signal amplification and opioid tolerance development. The combination may allow lower opioid doses while maintaining or improving analgesia and potentially reducing adverse effects associated with high-dose opioid monotherapy.
Approved indications
- Moderate to severe pain (phase 3 indication under investigation)
Common side effects
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sedation
- Dissociation (ketamine-related)
- Respiratory depression
Key clinical trials
- Examining Analgesic Synergy and Efficacy in Trauma Care (PHASE4)
- Opioid Free and Opioid Based Anesthesia in Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery
- Postoperative Pain Monitoring With ANI in Lumbar Spine Surgery (NA)
- Small Study Comparing Two Pain Medicines in Teenagers for Pain Control After Scoliosis Corrective Surgery. (NA)
- Ketamine Administration for Postoperative Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Knee Arthroplasty (NA)
- Opioid-Free vs Opioid-Based Anesthesia in Bariatric Surgery (NA)
- Intravenous Lidocaine Plus Port-Site Ropivacaine for Recovery After Laparoscopic Surgery (PHASE3)
- Morphine or Ketamine for Analgesia (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Morphine plus Ketamine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Morphine plus Ketamine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- University of California, San Francisco portfolio CI