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Naloxone + Ketamine
Naloxone blocks opioid receptors to reverse opioid overdose, while ketamine provides dissociative anesthesia and analgesia through NMDA receptor antagonism.
Naloxone blocks opioid receptors to reverse opioid overdose, while ketamine provides dissociative anesthesia and analgesia through NMDA receptor antagonism. Used for Opioid overdose reversal with concurrent anesthesia/analgesia requirement.
At a glance
| Generic name | Naloxone + Ketamine |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Naloxone, ATC code: V03A B15, Ketamine, ATC code: N01A X03 |
| Sponsor | Ullevaal University Hospital |
| Drug class | Opioid antagonist + NMDA receptor antagonist combination |
| Target | Opioid receptors (mu, delta, kappa) and NMDA receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Emergency Medicine / Anesthesia |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
This is a combination product pairing an opioid antagonist (naloxone) with a dissociative anesthetic (ketamine). Naloxone competitively blocks mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors, rapidly reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression and overdose. Ketamine antagonizes NMDA glutamate receptors, producing anesthesia, analgesia, and dissociation. The combination may be used in emergency settings where both opioid reversal and anesthetic/analgesic effects are therapeutically desired.
Approved indications
- Opioid overdose reversal with concurrent anesthesia/analgesia requirement (investigational/research use)
Common side effects
- Dissociation
- Hypertension
- Tachycardia
- Emergence reactions
- Nausea
Key clinical trials
- Examining Analgesic Synergy and Efficacy in Trauma Care (PHASE4)
- Ketamine in Patients Undergoing TEVAR Procedures Receiving NCI (PHASE2)
- Ketamine for the Rapid Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Examining Mu Opioid Mechanisms of Ketamine's Rapid Effects in OCD (MKET2) (PHASE2)
- Inpatient Single Dose Interventions for Alcohol Use Disorder (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Glutamate and Opioid Mechanisms of Antidepressant Response to Ketamine (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Mechanism of Analgesic Effect on Prolonged Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (NA)
- Study of Immunomodulation Using Naltrexone and Ketamine for COVID-19 (PHASE2)
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:
- Naloxone + Ketamine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Naloxone + Ketamine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Ullevaal University Hospital portfolio CI