Can ketamine be used to treat depression?

Ketamine can be used as a treatment for depression, especially in cases where traditional antidepressants have not been effective. This use is mainly focused on people with treatment-resistant depression.

Ketamine works differently than traditional antidepressants. Ketamine has been shown to provide rapid relief from severe depressive symptoms, often within hours, while traditional antidepressants can take weeks to become effective.

Studies have shown that ketamine can be effective for patients who have not responded to other treatments for depression . Ketamine is usually administered intravenously, but an intranasal form, esketamine, has also been approved by the FDA for use in treatment-resistant depression.

Potential side effects of ketamine include dissociation, increased blood pressure, and in some cases hallucinations. These side effects are usually short-lived and occur during or shortly after administration. There is still limited research on the long-term effects of ketamine treatment for depression. Some patients may require repeated treatments to maintain benefits.

Ketamine offers a promising treatment option for people with severe and treatment-resistant depression, with rapid effects that are otherwise difficult to achieve with traditional antidepressants.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876201824002648?via%3Dihub

Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ketamine-for-major-depression-new-tool-new-questions-2019052216673

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-05-01 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024