Subanesthetic ketamine is a rapidly acting antidepressant, yet the effects of ketamine on cognitive function are inconsistent. The primary objective of this study was to explore the effects of esketamine on memory function and plasma levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in patients with depression. A total of 132 patients with depression completed six intravenous esketamine infusions (0.4 mg/kg)...
Ketamine has gained prominence as one of the most effective therapeutic options in unipolar treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, most studies related to the antidepressant action of ketamine used intravenous (IV) or intranasal (IN) administration. The subcutaneous (SC) route of administration is a promising alternative, as it results in plasma levels comparable to IV, causes fewer...
Brain ResearchJanuary 15, 2025Lijie Zhou, Xianlei Wang, Tianyu Cao et al.4 citations
Esketamine is commonly used for sedation or general anaesthesia in infants and young children. However, repeated esketamine administration during periods of rapid brain growth and development may result in various pathophysiological and cognitive changes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of recurrent esketamine exposure on long-term behavioural and white matter...
Intranasal esketamine, approved with oral antidepressants for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), is the S-enantiomer of ketamine and has higher potency and affinity for N-Methyl-d-Aspartate receptors. Administered intranasally, it offers rapid absorption and onset, essential for severe depressive symptoms or suicidal impulses. Comparative studies on esketamine and ketamine's...
CNS Spectrums2025Ana Rodríguez Lorente, María Pilar Campos-Navarro, Ángela Gil Montoya et al.
Abstract Objectives This proof-of-concept study aimed to assess the impact of intranasal esketamine (ESK-IN) in brain volume and neurofilament light chain (sNfL) over 6-months in patients with treatment resistant depression (TDR). Methods Seven TRD patients received ESK-IN while continuing oral antidepressants. Clinical evaluations were conducted at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months, with MRI scans...
If available in one's practice area, augmenting current medication therapy with esketamine results in greater rates of remission for treatment resistant depression as compared with quetiapine1.
Intranasal Esketamine is an effective rapid-acting antidepressant currently used to treat treatment-resistant depression. Artificial intelligence is another emerging tool in medicine, but little is known about the effectiveness of combining these innovations in psychiatry. This case report presents the outcome of a 37-year-old patient who received intranasal Esketamine treatment (84 mg) and...
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) are debilitating psychiatric conditions associated with significant psychosocial and economic burdens. Conventional antidepressants, particularly SSRIs and SNRIs, often produce inadequate responses and cause sexual dysfunction, contributing to poor adherence and diminished quality of life. This review aims to evaluate the...
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) remains a major challenge in the management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine and a glutamatergic modulator, was approved by the FDA and EMA for TRD in 2019. Beyond its rapid antidepressant effects, esketamine may enhance neuroplasticity, facilitating the reconnection with emotional and cognitive processes,...
Nasal esketamine has demonstrated efficacy in the management of treatment-resistant depression and psychiatric emergency due to major depression. This study investigates acceptance and awareness of esketamine as a depression treatment option, focusing on factors that influence patients' acceptance, including adherence to current medication regimens, regardless of prior esketamine exposure. This...
Ketamine and esketamine have demonstrated rapid, short-term antidepressant effects in major depressive disorder (MDD), but their relative safety remains unclear. This review aims to update the evidence on the safety of two agents for MDD and indirectly compare their safety and tolerability. We systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane databases up to 1 May 2025. Eligible...
Ketamine's antidepressant effects have been linked to its modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. However, the precise roles of both glutamate (Glu) levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in this process remain incompletely understood. This study examined the relationship between ketamine-induced changes in Glu levels and peripheral BDNF levels using...
Depression affects approximately 5.7% of adults worldwide, and around one-third of these individuals develop treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Intravenous (IV) ketamine and esketamine (administered IV or intranasally (IN)) are novel treatment options for TRD; however, only IN esketamine currently holds FDA approval. Compare the acute effectiveness of IV ketamine with esketamine (IV or IN)...
To investigate the efficacy of intranasal esketamine in reducing the incidence of emergence agitation (EA) in pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy and to determine the optimal dose of esketamine. A total of 204 children aged 3-6 years scheduled for adenotonsillectomy were randomly assigned to three groups. All participants received a standardized anesthetic induction protocol....
Postoperative sleep disturbance (PSD) is a common complication following surgery. Numerous factors can contribute to PSD, including personal factors, intraoperative factors, postoperative complications and environmental factors. PSD can lead to a range of adverse outcomes, severely impairing patients' postoperative recovery and long-term prognosis. Esketamine, a non-competitive...
Catatonia is a rare but potentially life-threatening psycho-motor syndrome. It is mainly manifested as decreased activities, or excessive and specific activities, such as stupor, agitation and defiance. Catatonia can appear in various diseases and the diagnosis and treatment of depressive catatonia are often delayed. As an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, esketamine shows...
Although Dexmedetomidine (DEX) can induce sleep that resembles natural sleep, it has demonstrated limited efficacy in patients with comorbid insomnia and depression. On the other hand, Esketamine (ESK) has shown a potent antidepressant effect. Herein, we aimed to establish whether esketamine could enhance the therapeutic efficacy of DEX in treating patients with comorbid insomnia and...
Intranasal (IN) esketamine has become an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for the management of treatment-resistant depression within major depressive disorder (MDD-TRD). Despite these promising benefits, given the prevalence of ketamine abuse, concerns remain over the addiction liability that may be associated with esketamine treatment. The objective of this study is to assess...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) has a high incidence and high risk of suicide. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective and rapid physical therapy for MDD but limited by adverse effects. Ketamine/esketamine are new emerging rapid antidepressants, which can synergize the efficacy and safety of ECT but come with other side effects. Binaural beat music (BBM) is a non-invasive...
Enhancing the early diagnosis and standardized treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), as advocated by the National Health Commission of China, is a key priority in the mental health initiatives of the nation. To achieve this, numerous evidence-based rapid treatment centers for MDD have been established or are currently under development across the country. These centers focus on the...