Recovery of NMDA receptor currents from MK-801 blockade is accelerated by Mg2+ and memantine under conditions of agonist exposure

► Use-dependent recovery of NMDAR currents after MK-801 blockade is boosted by Mg2+. ► Use-dependent recovery is also accelerated by memantine. ► NMDA + Mg2+ can trigger 45% MK-801 dissociation in only 10 min ► NMDA + Mg2+ can promote death in neurons with NMDARs 100% pre-blocked by MK-801. ► Care should be taken not to overestimate the stability of MK-801 blockade of NMDARs.