A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Pilot Trial of the Oral Selective NR2B Antagonist MK-0657 in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology June 20, 2012 Lobna Ibrahim, Nancy Diazgranados, Libby Jolkovsky et al. 219 citations
A small pilot study tested the antidepressant efficacy and tolerability of an oral formulation of the selective NMDA NR2B antagonist MK-0657 in patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design, five patients completed both periods of MK-0657 monotherapy (4-8 mg/d) or placebo for 12 days. Significant antidepressant effects were seen as early as day 5 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory, but not on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, the primary measure. No serious or dissociative adverse effects occurred. The findings suggest MK-0657 may have antidepressant properties, but larger studies are needed.