Ketamine and magnesium common pathway of antidepressant action
Natalia Górska, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Jakub Słupski, Maria Gałuszko‐węgielnik
Magnesium Research April 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1684/mrh.2018.0440 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine Serotonin Esketamine |
| Keywords | Glutamatergic Antidepressant Nmda receptor Pharmacology Mechanism of action Glutamate receptor Hippocampus |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key findings | Magnesium and ketamine may have a synergistic interaction in the pharmacodynamic activity relevant to mood disorders. |
Abstract
Depression is one of the major causes of disability worldwide. A proportion of adults with major depression fail to achieve remission with first-line treatment. Magnesium influences the neurotransmission involved in emotional processes, such as the serotonergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic systems. It has been reported that the mechanism of antidepressants' action is involved in the glutamatergic system. Theories about the role of magnesium ions in pathophysiology of major depressive disorder include blocking the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Ketamine, NMDAR antagonist, was found to promote fast-acting antidepressant and antisuicidal effects. Magnesium and ketamine seem to be involved in key mechanisms of the major depression pathophysiology. The evidence in the paper discussed may indicate the synergistic interaction between magnesium and ketamine pharmacodynamic activity being of particular importance in mood disorders.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine and Ketamine Metabolite Pharmacology: Insights into Therapeutic Mechanisms | 2018 | Review | |
| Mechanisms of Ketamine Action as an Antidepressant | 2018 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Ketamine Pharmacology: An Update (Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Aspects, Recent Findings) | 2013 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement |