Vaporized DMT, a short-acting psychedelic, rapidly reduced depression symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression. In an open-label trial, 14 patients received inhaled DMT at 15 mg and then 60 mg. The treatment was safe and well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events. By day 7, depression scores on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale dropped by an average of 21.14 points. The response rate was 85.71%, and the remission rate was 57.14%, with effects lasting up to 3 months. Suicidal ideation also decreased significantly, with no severe ideation the day after dosing. Vaporized DMT offers a non-invasive, time-efficient alternative to longer-acting psychedelics and traditional antidepressants.
Vaporized N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) produced rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in a small open-label trial of six people with treatment-resistant depression. Depression severity, measured by the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), decreased significantly from the first day through one month after dosing. The average MADRS score dropped by 22 points at day 7 and 17 points at one month. By day 7, 83.33% of patients responded to treatment and 66.67% achieved remission; at one month, 66.67% maintained response and 50% maintained remission. The short-acting, noninvasive vaporized route may improve accessibility to psychedelic treatments.
Eight weekly subcutaneous injections of esketamine produced a 52.17% response rate and a 34.78% remission rate in 30 patients with treatment-resistant depression, with improvements in self-reported depressive symptoms sustained for up to six months. The open-label trial lacked a control group and had a small sample size, limiting causal interpretation and generalizability. Subcutaneous administration offers a cheaper, easier alternative to intravenous or intranasal routes with comparable plasma levels and fewer side effects.