11 DESCRIPTION
Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection, USP for intravenous or intramuscular use, contains ketamine, a nonbarbiturate general anesthetic. Ketamine hydrochloride, USP is a white crystalline powder and has a molecular formula of C13H16ClNO∙HCl and a molecular weight of 274.19. The chemical name for ketamine hydrochloride is (±)-2-(o-Chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexanone hydrochloride. The chemical structure of ketamine hydrochloride is:
It is formulated as a slightly acidic (pH 3.5 to 5.5) sterile solution for intravenous or intramuscular injection. Each milliliter (mL) of the multiple-dose vials contain either 50 mg ketamine base (equivalent to 57.7 mg ketamine hydrochloride) or 100 mg ketamine base (equivalent to 115.3 mg ketamine hydrochloride) and not more than 0.10 mg/mL benzethonium chloride added as a preservative in water for injection.