Redefining Ketamine Pharmacology for Antidepressant Action: Synergistic NMDA and Opioid Receptor Interactions?

-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. In this review, the authors argue that ketamine's pharmacology should be redefined to include opioid receptors and the endogenous opioid system. They also highlight a potential mechanism of action of ketamine for depression that is attributed to bifunctional, synergistic interactions involving NMDA and opioid receptors.