ketamine + dexamethasone

Ketamine + dexamethasone is a combination of two pharmaceutical agents used primarily as adjuvants in anesthesia and pain management. Ketamine is a rapid-acting general anesthetic and NMDA receptor antagonist, while dexamethasone is a potent synthetic corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties. When administered together, typically intravenously or as additives to local anesthetics (such as lidocaine or bupivacaine), this combination has been shown to prolong the duration of analgesia, reduce postoperative pain scores, and improve mood outcomes after surgery. The mechanism involves ketamine’s blockade of NMDA receptors leading to analgesia and antidepressant effects, while dexamethasone acts via glucocorticoid receptor-mediated inhibition of pro-inflammatory pathways[3][4][6]. This combination has been studied in various surgical settings including gynecologic surgery, pediatric abdominal operations, and regional nerve blocks[1][2][3].

Other names

ketamine + dexamethasoneketamine hydrochloride and dexamethasone sodium phosphate