Ketamine and the next generation of antidepressants with a rapid onset of action

Summary & key facts

This paper reviews research showing that ketamine can reduce symptoms of depression much faster than standard antidepressants. Small human studies and animal experiments found mood improvements within hours, often lasting for days to about a week. Researchers think ketamine works by quickly changing how brain cells communicate and by helping new connections form, but the effects are short-lived and the drug can cause side effects and has abuse risk. The review says we need safer drugs that act just as fast and longer-lasting treatments based on what ketamine taught us.

Key facts:

• Researchers reviewed both animal studies and small clinical studies in people that tested ketamine as a fast-acting antidepressant.
• Ketamine often lowered depression symptoms within hours after a single dose, which is much faster than usual antidepressants that take weeks.
• The mood benefit from a single ketamine dose typically lasted from a few days up to about a week in many studies.
• Scientists propose that ketamine works by blocking a certain brain receptor, which then increases other fast brain signals and helps grow new connections between brain cells.
• Common short-term effects reported included feelings of dissociation (a sense of being detached), temporary increases in blood pressure, and other transient side effects.
• Because ketamine's benefit is usually short-lived and the drug can be misused, the paper emphasizes the need to develop new medications that are rapid but safer and longer-lasting.
• The paper notes limits: the human studies were small, and more research is needed to confirm long-term safety and how best to use or replace ketamine in treating depression.

Topics

Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Antidepressant Anxiety Biology Cognition Context (archaeology) Ketamine Major depressive disorder Medicine Neuroscience Paleontology Pharmacology Psychiatry Psychology

Substances

Ketamine

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Sadness or low mood