Shortage of injectable ketamine

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable ketamine. This is yet another drug which was manufactured by Ben Venue under contract for Bedford Laboratories. The voluntary shutdown of Ben Venue's facility was probably the cause of this shortage. JHF manufactures a brand name version of this drug, Ketalar, and cites increased demand as the reason for their shortage. Hospira cites manufacturing delays and Mylan does not give a reason. I recommend reading Ketamine: A Brief History in the article referenced below. An off-label use of ketamine is currently being investigated. By a yet unknown mechanism involving the brain's glutamate metabolism, the drug relieves suicidal depression within hours. Relief of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder and of treatment-resistant depression is also under investigation.

Lankenau, S. E. and M. C. Clatts. Ketamine Injection among High Risk Youth: Preliminary Findings from New York City. J Drug Issues 32(3):893-905, 2002.