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How can NMDAR antagonists such as ketamine help treat some forms of neuropathic pain?

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How does the human body perceive and respond to pain? — pain Learn how the human body senses pain and reacts to it.

NMDAR (N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor) antagonists, such as ketamine, are used to treat certain forms of neuropathic pain, including diabetic neuropathy.

These drugs function by blocking NMDARs, which are receptors whose activation is involved in the transmission of nociceptive (pain) signals. By inhibiting these receptors, the medication helps interrupt the pathways that contribute to the sensation of neuropathic pain.1

In the context of pain physiology, this mechanism is distinct from other analgesics that target different receptors or inflammatory processes. While ketamine is also known for its dissociative and anesthetic properties—often used in clinical settings to induce a state characterized by a lack of pain sensation and unconsciousness—its role in managing chronic neuropathic pain specifically leverages its ability to modulate neural communication and block pain-related signaling at the receptor level.21