IV Esketamine, Ketamine Equally Effective for Resistant Depression

Intravenous (IV) esketamine is as safe and effective as IV ketamine for patients with treatment-resistant depression, new research suggests. “Our study was the first randomized clinical trial directly comparing ketamine and esketamine in treatment-resistant depression,” senior investigator Lucas C. Quarantini, MD, PhD, Division of Psychiatry.
Why Does Ketamine Work for Depression When Nothing Else Does?

Even though depression is a common and debilitating mental illness, the last groundbreaking medication released for it was Prozac, approved in 1987. Throughout the last 20 years, though, research scientists have discovered that ketamine, a common anesthetic and, at times, a recreational drug, is a rapid and effective medication for treatment-resistant depression. As we’re learning […]
Ketamine edges out ECT for refractory depression

Ketamine is gaining ground to replace electroconvulsive therapy and the safer, more effective treatment for refractory depression. A single “ketamine infusion showed similar probability of suicidal ideation reduction as a full course of ECT” Electroconvulsive therapy and ketamine both work well for refractory depression, but ketamine had the edge in a small, open label […]