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A unique case of very low‐dose subcutaneous ketamine use: Maintenance option of ketamine for treatment‐resistant depression

Adem T. Can, Daniel F. Hermens, Jim Lagopoulos

Clinical Case Reports December 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.6675 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population Patient with severe treatment-resistant depression
Intervention subcutaneous ketamine
Dose very low-dose
Topics Depression Esketamine Ketamine
Citations 6
Key findings Very low-dose subcutaneous ketamine maintenance therapy sustained antidepressant response in a patient with severe treatment-resistant depression.

Abstract

Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated that low‐dose subanesthetic intravenous ketamine infusion treatment leads to rapid improvement of treatment‐resistant depression. The following case report describes the use of a very low‐dose subcutaneous ketamine as a form of maintenance in a patient with severe treatment‐resistant depression using a retrospective chart review.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on ketamine for depression, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Electroconvulsive Therapy, Ketamine, and Esketamine in a Patient with Major Depressive Disorder and Multiple Comorbidities: A Case Report over 10-year Treatment from Adolescence to Adulthood. A patient with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid generalized anxiety... 2025 Case report n = 1
A longitudinal case series of IM ketamine for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders and comorbid treatment‐resistant depression Patients with enduring eating disorders and treatment-resistant depression 2021 Case series n = 4
Effects of intranasal (S)-ketamine on Veterans with co-morbid treatment-resistant depression and PTSD: A retrospective case series Veterans with co-morbid depression and PTSD 2022 Retrospective case series n = 35
Case report: Intramuscular ketamine or intranasal esketamine as a treatment in four patients with major depressive disorder and comorbid anorexia nervosa Patients with anorexia nervosa and a comorbid depressive disorder treated at a private... 2023 Case report n = 4
Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder Patients with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid PTSD 2023 Case series n = 5

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