SLOW BUT STEADY: ORAL KETAMINE AS AN EFFECTIVE ADJUNCT IN DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND PTSD
International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology February 12, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyae059.084 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 8 |
| Population | Patients with PTSD, suicidality, treatment-resistant depression, or anxiety |
| Intervention | Oral ketamine |
| Dose | 5 mg/kg |
| Duration | 12 treatments; follow-up nearly 18 months |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Esketamine Ketamine PTSD |
| Key points | During the 12-treatment administration phase, response was minimal to modest, but over subsequent weeks seven of eight patients experienced significant improvement in symptom severity and daily function that persisted for nearly 18 months of follow-up. Oral ketamine was well tolerated, with mild to moderate hypertension and drowsiness as the main side effects. The author proposes that oral ketamine warrants further study as a possible adjunctive treatment in resistant cases. |
Abstract
Abstract Intravenous and intranasal Ketamine have become important options for the rapid relief of symptoms in PTSD, Suicidality and in Treatment Resistant Depression and Anxiety. However, they are costly, require at least an out- patient clinic setting and have relatively short lived benefits. I present a pilot study examining 8 patients treated with oral Ketamine, 5 mg/kg for 12 treatments. Treatment was well tolerated with mild to moderate hypertension and drowsiness the main side effects. Treatment response during the administration phase was minimal to modest at best. Nevertheless over subsequent weeks, 7 subjects experienced significant improvement in symptom severity and daily function which has persisted for nearly 18 months in follow up. One subject dropped out. Oral Ketamine warrants further study as a possible adjunctive treatment in resistant cases.