fentanyl + ketamine

Fentanyl + ketamine is a multimodal analgesic combination consisting of the synthetic opioid fentanyl and the dissociative anesthetic ketamine. Fentanyl is a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist that provides rapid and effective pain relief but is associated with side effects such as respiratory depression and nausea. Ketamine acts primarily as a non-competitive antagonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, providing analgesia and anesthesia while maintaining respiratory drive and hemodynamic stability. In clinical practice, particularly in bariatric and ambulatory surgeries, the combination is utilized to achieve an "opioid-sparing" effect, reducing the total dose of narcotics required for postoperative pain management and potentially improving recovery outcomes in high-risk populations like those with obstructive sleep apnea.

Other names

ketamine-fentanylfentanyl-ketamine