Effects of protein calorie malnutrition on the pharmacokinetics of ketamine in rats.

The effect of protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) on the pharmacokinetics of ketamine (KET) enantiomers has been investigated. Six control and six PCM rats were administered 85 mg/kg racemic KET by intramuscular injection, and plasma concentrations of (S)- and (R)-KET, norketamine (NKET), and 5,6-dehydronorketamine (DNK) were measured using enantioselective gas chromatography. Pharmacokinetic profiles were analyzed using standard noncompartmental and compartmental modeling methods.