We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the comparative effectiveness of ketamine versus electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the treatment of major depressive episodes (MDEs). PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ketamine and ECT for MDE. The primary outcome was response rate, for...
Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, is a racemic mixture of esketamine and arketamine used to treat unipolar and bipolar depression. Preliminary reports indicate that it may be beneficial for depressed patients reporting symptoms of anhedonia. In this systematic review we aim to assess and analyze the existing body of evidence regarding the therapeutic effects of ketamine on...
Electroconvulsive shocks (ECS) and ketamine are antidepressant treatments with a relatively fast onset of therapeutic effects compared to conventional medication and psychotherapy. While the exact neurobiological mechanisms underlying the antidepressant response of ECS and ketamine are unknown, both interventions are associated with neuroplasticity. Restoration of neuroplasticity may be a...
Symptoms that emerge during pharmacological treatment of bipolar depression are frequently observed, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive treatment monitoring. This observational study sought to observe the correlation of eight intravenous ketamine infusions with treatment-emergent depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant bipolar depression patients who maintained their baseline...
In the United States (US), prescription drug coverage is subject to prior authorization (PA) criteria, which may vary between health plans and may exceed drug label requirements. This study aimed to characterize profiles and treatment history of patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) who initiated esketamine nasal spray, by stringency of their health plans' PA criteria relative to...
In Japan, the landscape of clinical practice for substance use disorder is changing significantly, primarily due to an increase in patients using over-the-counter drugs. A major concern is the rising number of patients misusing dextromethorphan (DXM). These patients with DXM use disorders often have severe trauma-related and mood symptoms, and therefore try to cope with those symptoms by...
For depression, ketamine is more conveniently administered by oral than by intravenous (iv) routes. The relative antidepressant efficacy of oral vs iv ketamine is unknown. To assess the acute efficacy and the persistence of improvement with open-label oral versus iv ketamine in outpatients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Adults with TRD were randomized to oral (N=30) or IV (N=31)...
JAAPASeptember 1, 2024Carolyn F Kundert, Robert M Sobule, Muaid Ithman1 citation
Esketamine, the s(+) enantiomer of ketamine, was approved in 2019 as the first rapid-acting intranasal spray medication for treatment-resistant depression; the drug is given in combination with an antidepressant. The treatment is self-administered in a clinical setting under the supervision of a healthcare provider and usually is well tolerated. Many of its adverse reactions are mild,...
The aim of this study was to explore the use of perinatal ketamine to see if it can be used for the reduction of postpartum depression (PPD) following cesarean section (C-section). PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science were the primary databases used for this review. Search terms used on January 5, 2024 incorporated "ketamine," "C-section," "postpartum depression," and related synonyms. The...
Ketamine therapy can reduce the risk of suicide and depression in the treatment resistant patient. Adverse effects of ketamine infusion include blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, hepatotoxicity, headache, and cystitis. However, the effect of ketamine infusion on blood glucose remains unclear. This report describes several episodes of hypoglycemia in a 36-year-old man with type 1 diabetes...