What are the active ingredients in ketamine?

The active ingredient in ketamine is ketamine hydrochloride, a dissociative anesthetic. It primarily acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist, which interferes with the action of the neurotransmitter glutamate. This mechanism contributes to its anesthetic, analgesic, and rapidly acting antidepressant effects. Ketamine is also sometimes used in veterinary medicine and for pain management.