The traditional treatment for refractory status epilepticus includes diazepam, midazolam, valproic acid, thiopental and propofol. These medications fail to control seizure activity in 20-40% of patients. This is attributed to decrease in activity of GABA receptors along with reciprocal up regulation of NMDA receptors. Glutamate activation of NMDA receptors promotes calcium influx and excitotoxicity. Ketamine, an intravenous anesthetic agent which is a non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors can block the flow of Ca and Na and by combining with phencyclidine binding sites inside the ion channel of NMDA receptors, reduce the epileptiform burst discharges and after potential. Therefore, targeting the NMDA receptors with ketamine may provide a novel approach to control refractory seizures. Moreover, by blocking glutamate mediated NMDA receptor induced neurotoxicity, ketamine may render neuroprotection. Ketamine also provides additional advantage of hemodynamic stability. Currently, ketamine is used as a last resort drug in the treatment of refractory status epilepticus.