Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) - The Consciousness Library

Adolescent Δ9-THC Exposure Differentially Affects Mice Depending on Their Personality.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) June 29, 2026 Dilorom Begmatova, Liudmila Vinnikova, Natalya Zemliana et al.

Background: Adolescence is a sensitive period for brain maturation during which exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can induce long-lasting neurobehavioral alterations. Yet, preclinical and clinical studies report inconsistent long-term outcomes of adolescent THC exposure, ranging from clear impairments to apparently normalizing effects. We hypothesize that these discrepancies reflect...

DOI: 10.3390/ph19071009 Full text THC Cannabis Adolescence Dominant-submissive relationship

Microbiota-Derived SCFAs Mediate the Synergistic Antidepressant Effects of Dajianzhong Decoction and Ketamine via FFAR2-NLRP3-IL-1β Signaling.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 31, 2026 Wenting Zhang, Xin Guo, Jiping Zhang et al.

Background: Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant for major depressive disorder; however, its effects are short-lasting and associated with neurotoxic side effects. Thus, identifying strategies to prolong its antidepressant effects is of critical importance. It has been shown that Dajianzhong Decoction (DJZT) prolongs the antidepressant effects of ketamine through modulation of the gut...

DOI: 10.3390/ph19060877 Full text Depression Ketamine Djzt Ffar2–nlrp3–il-1β +2

The Monoamine-Glutamate Continuum of Depression: A Neurobiological Framework for Precision Psychiatry.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) April 24, 2026 Pietro Carmellini, Alessandro Cuomo, Maria Beatrice Rescalli et al.

Background/Objectives: Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains a leading cause of disability worldwide and exhibits substantial biological heterogeneity that is not adequately captured by current symptom-based diagnostic systems. While the classical monoamine hypothesis has historically guided antidepressant development, it does not fully account for variability in treatment response, delayed...

DOI: 10.3390/ph19050662 Full text Ketamine Major depressive disorder Synaptic plasticity Biomarkers +5

Ketamine and Esketamine in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Scoping Review of Clinical and Mechanistic Evidence.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) April 16, 2026 Maria Marmureanu, Mariana Valy Besoiu, Vlad Dionisie et al.

Background/Objective: A substantial proportion of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) does not respond adequately to first-line treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioral therapy. OCD has traditionally been conceptualized as a serotonergic disorder. However, emerging evidence suggests that glutamatergic dysfunction plays an important role....

DOI: 10.3390/ph19040628 Full text Esketamine OCD Obsessive–compulsive disorder

Ketamine's Role in Neuroinflammation and Neuroprotection Across Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) August 29, 2025 Gustavo N Silva, Virna G A Brandão, Kenneth Blum et al. 7 citations

Ketamine, a widely used anesthetic with emerging evidence suggesting neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties across various neurological disorders, is recognized for its NMDA receptor antagonism. It has been postulated to play a role in neuroprotection, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and decrease microglial activation, as well as cytokines TNF and IL-6. Despite its...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18091298 Full text Nmda receptors Brain injury Ketamine ketamine Neuroprotection neuroprotection +4

Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of (R)-Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection, a Novel Rapid-Acting Antidepressant, in Healthy Chinese Subjects.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) July 21, 2025 Rui Wang, Yuqian Yang, Tong Zhou et al.

Objectives: (R)-ketamine hydrochloride injection is a novel, rapid-acting antidepressant for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of (R)-ketamine hydrochloride injection in healthy Chinese subjects following ascending single intravenous doses ranging from 10.0 mg to 180 mg. Methods: This randomized,...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18071079 Full text R-ketamine Treatment-resistant depression R-norketamine N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist +9

Insomnia and Esketamine Add-On Therapy to Antidepressant Therapy in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression-A Pilot Study.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) July 19, 2025 Daniel Szawarnoga, Joanna Fojcik, Michał Górski et al. 1 citation

Background: Insomnia, as one of the most common sleep disorders, is a significant health problem, especially among patients suffering from drug-resistant depression. Problems related to the quality of sleep in that population can significantly affect the effectiveness of treatment and quality of life, which is why it is necessary to search for effective therapeutic interventions in this area....

DOI: 10.3390/ph18071066 Full text Esketamine Treatment-resistant depression S-ketamine Insomnia +5

Unveiling the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Antidepressants: A Systematic Review of Human Studies over the Last Decade.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) June 10, 2025 Layla Bleibel, Paulina Sokołowska, Gabriela Henrykowska et al. 18 citations

Background/Objectives: Depression ranks among the most prevalent mental health conditions globally, marked by a variety of symptoms that frequently cause significant emotional distress and impairment in individuals, alongside a high recurrence rate. The predominant approach to treating depression revolves around monoamine theory, utilizing SSRIs and SNRIs, with Esketamine emerging as a...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18060867 Full text Ketamine Snri Ssri Depression-inflammation link +2

Anti-Suicidal Effects of Lithium, Ketamine, and Clozapine-A 10-Year Systematic Review.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 18, 2025 Przemyslaw M Waszak, Jan Opalko, Natalia Olszańska et al. 9 citations

Background/Objectives: Suicide is a complex issue resulting in approximately 700,000 deaths annually. Individuals with mood disorders or schizophrenia are at an increased risk. Pharmacological interventions, such as lithium, clozapine, and ketamine, show promise in reducing suicidality. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed to identify studies...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18050742 Full text Ketamine Clozapine Lithium Suicidal ideation +6

Safety Profile and Suicidality Associated with the Use of Esketamine in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in European Countries: An EudraVigilance Database Analysis.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 9, 2025 Ilaria Ammendolia, Carmen Mannucci, Emanuela Esposito et al. 2 citations

Background/Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder, with a significant portion of patients developing treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Esketamine is an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor indicated as a nasal spray in combination with other antidepressants for adults with TRD. Signals of suspected adverse reactions (SARs) to esketamine from the...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18050702 Full text Major depressive disorder Adverse reactions Pharmacovigilance Suicide +7

New Agents in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: What Innovations and in What Areas of Psychopathology?

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) April 30, 2025 Paola Bozzatello, Roberta Novelli, Rebecca Schisano et al. 6 citations

Psychiatric disorders are a major cause of illness in the world. Unfortunately, many patients are resistant to treatment and present serious complications. Schizophrenia is refractory to treatment in about one-third of patients. Antidepressants are effective in about half of patients. Suicidal ideation is an increasing issue in patients with mixed features in bipolar disorder (BD). Therefore,...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18050665 Full text Anxiety disorders Bipolar disorder Efficacy Major depression +9

Auto-Induction in Oral Esketamine Treatment for Treatment-Resistant Depression: An Exploratory Study.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) April 25, 2025 Jolien K E Veraart, Cornelis F Vos, Nieko C Punt et al. 2 citations

Background: Esketamine is a rapidly acting antidepressant with robust efficacy in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Diminishing therapeutic effects and attenuated side effects have been reported after long-term use. This study aimed to investigate its long-term pharmacokinetics and factors that may contribute to reduced efficacy over time in patients with TRD by evaluating the potential...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18050627 Full text Esketamine Treatment-resistant depression Auto-induction Pharmacokinetics +2

Clinical Research on Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) in Psychiatry and Neuroscience.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) March 29, 2025 Hossein Omidian, Alborz Omidian 5 citations

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is gaining renewed interest as a potential treatment for anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder, with clinical trials reporting significant symptom reductions and long-lasting effects. LSD modulates serotonin (5-HT2A) receptors, which, in turn, influence dysfunctional brain networks involved in emotional processing and cognition. It has also shown promise...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18040499 Full text LSD Clinical research Pharmacogenetics Serotonin receptors +8

Long-Term Cognitive Outcomes of Esketamine Nasal Spray in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Preliminary Report.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) January 27, 2025 Matildes de Freitas Menezes Sobreiro, Paulo Sergio Panse Silveira, Vitor Breseghello Cavenaghi et al. 5 citations

Background/Objectives: Ketamine/esketamine has a rapid/robust antidepressant effect on treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, its long-term cognitive effects remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential cognitive effects of an esketamine spray on a series of TRD patients. Methods: We evaluated the cognitive performance of eight TRD patients subjected to an esketamine...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18020173 Full text Long term Treatment-resistant depression trd Refractory depression Cognitive function +2

Demystifying the Antidepressant Mechanism of Action of Stinels, a Novel Class of Neuroplastogens: Positive Allosteric Modulators of the NMDA Receptor.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) January 24, 2025 John E Donello, Roger S McIntyre, Donald B Pickel et al. 14 citations

Plastogens are a class of therapeutics that function by rapidly promoting changes in neuroplasticity. A notable example, ketamine, is receiving great attention due to its combined rapid and long-term antidepressant effects. Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, and, in addition to its therapeutic activity, it is associated with psychotomimetic and dissociative side...

DOI: 10.3390/ph18020157 Full text Ketamine Synaptic plasticity N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor Mechanism +8

Effects of Ketamine vs. Midazolam in Adolescent Treatment Resistant Depression.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) December 4, 2024 Andrea Macejova, Veronika Kovacova, Ingrid Tonhajzerova et al. 7 citations

Background: Adolescent treatment resistant depression (TRD) is increasing in recent years. While ketamine showed rapid antidepressant effects in adult TRD studies, research on its effectiveness in adolescents is limited. Methods: This study examines the effects of intravenous ketamine vs. midazolam on depressive and anxiety symptomatology assessed by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17121627 Full text Treatment-resistant depression Adolescent age Midazolam Novel antidepressants +7

Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Compounds for Substance Use Disorders.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) November 5, 2024 Tamara Valdez, Valbhi Patel, Nattaphone Senesombath et al. 4 citations

Psychedelics have recently (re)emerged as therapeutics of high potential for multiple mental health conditions, including substance use disorders (SUDs). Despite early mid-20th century anecdotal reports and pilot studies demonstrating the possibility of these substances in efficaciously treating conditions such as alcohol and opioid use disorders, legal restrictions and social stigma have...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17111484 Full text Ayahuasca Ibogaine Ketamine Lysergic acid diethylamide +10

Use of Ketamine in Patients with Multifactorial Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) September 3, 2024 Alejandro Bruna-Mejias, Vicente Baeza, Javiera Gamboa et al. 4 citations

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by the experience of a number of sensory disturbances including pain, burning sensations, paroxysms of stabbing pain, dysesthesias, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. The above-mentioned sensations may occur in a specific dermatome area or other delimited region of the body. The objective of this review was to analyze the...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17091165 Full text Pharmacology Chronic pain Neuropathic pain/nerve pain/neuralgia/polyneuropathy Ketamine/ketalar/special k +2

A Multi-Center, Open-Label, Single-Arm Study to Investigate the Early Effectiveness of Esketamine Nasal Spray in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression Using a Mobile Self-Monitoring Application.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) August 30, 2024 Junhyung Kim, Seung-Hoon Lee, Cheolmin Shin et al. 8 citations

This study assesses the early effectiveness of esketamine nasal spray (ESK) in adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) 1 day after the first administration, as monitored through self-assessment via the mobile application, Esketamine Continuing Assessment for Relapse Prevention (EsCARe). In this multi-center, open-label, single-arm study, adults aged 18-65 years diagnosed with TRD after...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17091143 Full text Treatment-resistant depression Early effectiveness Mobile health Self-monitoring +6

Examining the Role of Oxytocinergic Signaling and Neuroinflammatory Markers in the Therapeutic Effects of MDMA in a Rat Model for PTSD.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) June 27, 2024 Haron Avgana, Roni Shira Toledano, Irit Akirav 8 citations

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has shown potential as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Preclinical studies involving rodents have demonstrated that MDMA can facilitate the extinction of fear memories. It has been noted that MDMA impacts oxytocin neurons and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the role of oxytocinergic signaling...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17070846 Full text PTSD Molly Fear extinction Neuroinflammation +6

Efficacy and Safety of Pharmacological Treatment in Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) June 20, 2024 He Zhu, Bei Wen, Jijun Xu et al. 15 citations

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disabling condition that usually affects the extremities after trauma or surgery. At present, there is no FDA-approved pharmacological treatment for patients with CRPS. We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacological therapies and determine the best strategy for CRPS. We searched the...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17060811 Full text Pain relief Pharmacological treatment Chronic pain Pain management +6

The Role of Ayahuasca in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cell Survival, Proliferation and Oxidative Stress.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) June 2, 2024 Joana Gonçalves, Mariana Feijó, Sílvia Socorro et al.

The psychedelic beverage ayahuasca is originally obtained by Banisteriopsis caapi (B. caapi) (BC) and Psychotria viridis (P. viridis) (PV). However, sometimes these plant species are replaced by others that mimic the original effects, such as Mimosa hostilis (M. hostilis) (MH) and Peganum harmala (P. harmala) (PH). Its worldwide consumption and the number of studies on its potential therapeutic...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17060719 Full text Dimethyltryptamine Hoasca Caco-2 Apoptosis +10

Ketamine's Amelioration of Fear Extinction in Adolescent Male Mice Is Associated with the Activation of the Hippocampal Akt-mTOR-GluA1 Pathway.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 22, 2024 Emilija Glavonic, Milorad Dragic, Milos Mitic et al. 5 citations

Fear-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders are pervasive psychiatric conditions marked by persistent fear, stemming from its dysregulated acquisition and extinction. The primary treatment for these disorders, exposure therapy (ET), relies heavily on fear extinction (FE) principles. Adolescence, a vulnerable period for developing psychiatric...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17060669 Full text Ketamine Adolescence Fear extinction Fear-related disorders +7

3-Methoxy-Phencyclidine Induced Psychotic Disorder: A Literature Review and an 18F-FDG PET/CT Case Report.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) March 31, 2024 Maria Pepe, Marco Di Nicola, Fabrizio Cocciolillo et al. 6 citations

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are modifying the drug scenario worldwide and have become a public health concern because of their toxicological profiles and their harmful physical/psychological effects. 3-Methoxy-Phencyclidine (3-MeO-PCP), a non-competitive antagonist of glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, belongs to the phencyclidine-like subfamily of arylcyclohexylamines and...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17040452 Full text 3-meo-pcp Nps Cognitive functioning Neuroimaging +1

Effect of Acute Ketamine Treatment on Sympathetic Regulation Indexed by Electrodermal Activity in Adolescent Major Depression.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) March 10, 2024 Veronika Kovacova, Andrea Macejova, Ingrid Tonhajzerova et al. 4 citations

Ketamine is a potential rapid-onset antidepressant characterized by sympathomimetic effects. However, the question of ketamine's use in treating adolescents' major depressive disorder (MDD) is still discussed. Thus, we aimed to study the acute effect of ketamine infusion treatment on sympathetic regulation using electrodermal activity (EDA) in addition to an assessment of depressive...

DOI: 10.3390/ph17030358 Full text Major depressive disorder Adolescence Depressive symptomatology Electrodermal activity +12

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