Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection shortage
Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection is currently listed in shortage by the FDA. The FDA lists 1 affected product. This page was last refreshed from FDA data on Sep 22, 2026.
Pfizer is permanently stopping its Novaplus-branded ketamine hydrochloride injection (500 mg/5 mL vials). The same medicine at both 50 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL strengths is still listed as available from other manufacturers.
Don’t stop or change your therapy on your own — talk with your prescriber about the plan that fits you, and ask your pharmacist what’s actually available (see options).
Do you take this drug? See the ‘What to do’ recommendation from Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD →What’s in shortage — at a glance
These figures count only the manufacturers that reported this shortage to the FDA — not every company that makes Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection. Other makers that haven’t reported a problem are shown in the green card below.
Shortage timeline
-
Nov 7, 2025Currently in shortage1 of 1 product affected.
-
Nov 7, 2025First reported to the FDA1 product first listed.
Built from FDA posting and update dates. The end date FDA publishes is the posting/update date, not a true resolution date, so durations are approximate.
What exactly is on backorder — by manufacturer
Manufacturer: Pfizer Inc. 📞 844-646-4398 1 NDC click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Be Discontinued | Ketamine Hydrochloride, Injection, 500 mg/5mL (100 mg/mL); Multiple Dose Glass Fliptop Vial Novaplus (NDC 0409-0040-10) | — | — | Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug | — |
These rows are manufacturer reports to the FDA for Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection — they do not necessarily cover every manufacturer that makes this drug. A company appears here only if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so other makers may still have stock. That’s the basis for the Where else can I get Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection? options further down this page.
Why is Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection in shortage?
Pfizer has reported to the FDA that they are permanently stopping the manufacturing of one specific version of ketamine hydrochloride injection — the 500 mg/5mL (100 mg/mL) multiple dose glass flip-top vial sold under the Novaplus label. This means that particular package and strength from Pfizer will no longer be produced going forward.
It's worth knowing that Pfizer did not share a specific public reason for why they made this decision — just that the discontinuation is permanent for this product. Also, this report only covers Pfizer's version of this particular vial. Other manufacturers of ketamine injection are listed separately on this page and are not part of this specific report.
Based on the manufacturer-reported reason(s) and notes on file with the FDA for Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection, summarized in plain English by HelloPharmacist. A drug can be short for more than one reason, and the FDA updates these as manufacturers report changes.
What should I do if I take Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection?
Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection is currently on the FDA shortage list, so I want to walk you through what that means for you.
The strength involved here is the 500 mg/5mL (100 mg/mL) Multiple Dose Glass Fliptop Vial (Novaplus). This specific product has no available source right now. According to the report, the maker, Pfizer Inc., has listed it as being discontinued — meaning they are stopping production of this particular vial.
Because this is a discontinuation rather than a temporary delay, the supply problem for this exact product may be permanent. That said, this report reflects only one manufacturer's decision. The same medicine — ketamine hydrochloride injection, including the 100 mg/mL strength — is still listed from several other makers, such as Hikma, Hospira, Sagent, Par Health, and Eugia.
Here is what I suggest:
- Do not stop or change how this medicine is used on your own.
- Ask your pharmacy whether they can source the same medicine from one of the other makers above. It may not be in local stock, but they can check wholesalers and other manufacturers.
- If your exact product cannot be found, talk with your prescriber or pharmacist about a suitable option.
Manufacturer contact numbers are listed on this page for reference; pharmacies usually handle these calls. This is general, national information and may not match your local pharmacy's stock.
- Don’t stop or change the medication on your own — talk to your prescriber first.
- If this is part of an ongoing or essential regimen (for example HIV treatment or prevention, seizure, heart, transplant, diabetes or mental-health medicines), do not skip or ration doses — contact your pharmacist or prescriber right away to arrange continued supply before you run out.
- Ask your pharmacy to check other manufacturers, strengths, package sizes, and nearby stores.
- Ask your prescriber whether a different strength, formulation, or the brand/generic version is appropriate.
- This is a controlled substance. Transfers between pharmacies and switching strengths have extra federal/state rules — ask the pharmacy before you assume a transfer is possible.
Uses, dosing, side effects, prices, and the complete FDA label — written in plain English and pharmacist-reviewed.
Where else can I get Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection?
FDA shortages are manufacturer-reported — a company only shows up on the shortage list if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so not every maker of Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection is necessarily short. Below we pull together the other still-marketed options that are not reported in shortage: the same medicine from manufacturers that haven’t reported a problem, and alternative dosage forms. These may still be out of stock at your pharmacy, and only your prescriber or pharmacist can decide what’s right for you.
Same medicine, other manufacturers (not reported short)
Same active ingredient, dosage form & route as the shortage (matched on the FDB HICL ingredient code), from makers that have not filed a shortage with the FDA:
| Product | Strength | Form / route | Manufacturer | NDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 50 mg/mL | Injection · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | 00143-9508-10 |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 100 mg/mL | Injection · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | 00143-9509-10 |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 100 mg/mL | Injection, Solution, Concentrate · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | 00409-2051-05 |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 50 mg/mL | Injection, Solution, Concentrate · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | 00409-2053-10 |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 10 mg/mL | Injection, Solution · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | 25021-0682-20 |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 50 mg/mL | Injection, Solution · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | 25021-0683-10 |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 100 mg/mL | Injection, Solution · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | 25021-0684-05 |
| Ketalar | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 10 mg/mL | Injection · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Par Health USA, LLC | 42023-0113-10 |
| Ketalar | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 50 mg/mL | Injection · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Par Health USA, LLC | 42023-0114-10 |
| Ketalar | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 100 mg/mL | Injection · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Par Health USA, LLC | 42023-0115-10 |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 10 mg/mL | Injection · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Eugia US LLC | 55150-0438-10 |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE 50 mg/mL | Injection · Intramuscular, Intravenous | Eugia US LLC | 55150-0439-10 |
Alternative dosage forms of Ketamine Hydrochloride
A different form of the same drug (for example a solution when capsules are short). A form change is a clinical decision — ask your prescriber:
Therapeutic equivalents & pricing 13 productsclick to expand
Orange Book–rated equivalents of the affected strengths, with the latest NADAC price (a federal retail-acquisition benchmark, not your copay) and an evidence-based availability label. Cheapest first.
| Product | Manufacturer | Package | NADAC $/unit | AB rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Hikma | 10 vials | $1.544 | AP | Availability likely |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Hospira, | 10 vials | $1.544 | AP | Discontinued |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Hospira, | 10 vials | $1.544 | AP | Availability likely |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Sagent | 10 vials | $1.544 | AP | Availability likely |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Civica, | 10 vials | $1.544 | AP | Availability likely |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Henry | 1 vial | — | AP | Discontinued |
| Ketalar 100 mg/mL | Par | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Eugia | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| ketamine hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Fresenius | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Gland | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Medical | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Medical | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride 100 mg/mL | Henry | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
Equivalents share the same ingredient, strength, dosage form and route; an AB rating means the FDA considers them substitutable. NADAC is a national retail-pharmacy acquisition benchmark from CMS — not what you pay. Availability is inferred from recent pricing, not a stock check.
Other drugs in the same treatment class
These are different medicines — not other versions of Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection — that fall in the same broad treatment class (general anesthetics,injectable) . They are not automatic substitutes: they can differ in how they work, dosing, effectiveness, side effects and what they’re approved to treat. Do not switch on your own. This list is for information only — ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether any of them is appropriate for you.
Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
Other anesthesia shortages
Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection shortage FAQs
Is Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection in shortage?
Which products are affected?
When will Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection be available again?
Can I still get Ketamine Hydrochloride somewhere?
What should I do if I take Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection?
Still have a question about the Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection shortage?
Ask a pharmacist about this shortage →View Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection on the FDA drug-shortage database →
Where does this data come from?
/drug/shortages) — drug, manufacturer & contact, NDC/product, status, availability, reason, therapeutic category and posting/update dates. Current / To Be Discontinued = active; Resolved is kept for history. The Supply-Risk rating is assessed per active ingredient and adds the FDA NDC Directory (still-marketed manufacturers by ingredient & form); same-medicine and equivalent products use First Databank classification + CMS NADAC pricing; Medicaid use + most-affected states come from CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Reference only — confirm current status with the manufacturer or FDA before acting on it.