An old drug is stimulating a great deal of excitement within the psychiatric community. Ketamine was introduced in the 1970s as an anesthetic. Although it was effective, it had certain drawbacks. The drug worked to create a kind of dissociation from the real world. Many patients recovering from surgery found themselves disconnected from their bodies. This distorted perception could sometimes be disconcerting.
Ketamine also got a bad reputation as a drug of abuse. Called Special K, it has been popular as a club drug for decades.
Now, however, researchers are discovering that it may be surprisingly effective in reversing hard-to-treat depression. A recent Mayo Clinic study found that small doses of ketamine infused slowly over an hour and a half produced rapid antidepressant effects in patients who had not responded to other treatments.
Such rapid reversal of severe depression is unheard of with other medications. Although a number of researchers are reporting similar findings, most of the studies are small and of relatively short duration. It remains to be seen whether this effect will persist, especially at lower doses less likely to cause side effects.
[Journal of Psychopharmacology, May, 2013]
There are more details on conventional antidepressants and alternative ways of treating this serious condition in our Guide to Dealing with Depression.
