Magnesium in Ketamine Administration in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Natalia Górska, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Jakub Słupski, Mariusz S. Wiglusz, Maria Gałuszko‐węgielnik, Mateusz Kawka, Agata M. Grzegorzewska
Pharmaceuticals May 3, 2021 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050430 via OpenAlex
Summary
Magnesium levels in the blood change over the course of ketamine treatment for depression. In patients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, serum magnesium concentration was significantly higher before treatment began than after five or seven ketamine infusions. However, changes in magnesium levels were not correlated with depression scores on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) or with mania scores on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). The study also found no link between magnesium concentration and somatic comorbidities. While the findings support the idea that magnesium plays a role in treatment-resistant depression, especially with ketamine, there is no clear evidence of a straightforward relationship between magnesium levels and treatment response or other health conditions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Inpatients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder |
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Duration | Weekly assessments before, during (every second infusion), and one week after last ketamine infusion |
| Topics | Ketamine |
| Keywords | Magnesium Depression economics Mania Internal medicine |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Serum magnesium concentration changed during ketamine treatment but was not correlated with depression or mania scores or with somatic comorbidities. |
Abstract
Relationship between depression and magnesium levels is reported. This observational study examined whether serum magnesium concentration change over time of ketamine treatment course, also whether association between magnesium concentrations and treatment response measured with Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score occurs. Moreover, interlink between changes in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score, somatic comorbidities, and magnesium concentration was studied. Inpatients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder were rated weekly by clinician using MADRS and YMRS. Magnesium levels assessments were carried out weekly, before start of ketamine treatment and then every second infusion and one week after last ketamine infusion. The concentration of Mg2+ ions differs depending on the measurement. The Mg2+ concentration in pre-measurement was significantly higher than in measurement after five infusions (p = 0.031) and after seven infusions (p = 0.003). No significant correlation was observed between changes in magnesium serum levels and MADRS or YMRS. The concentration of Mg2+ ion in course of the treatment was not associated with somatic comorbidities. The study supports data for role of magnesium in treatment-resistant depression, particularly related to ketamine treatment, but provides no clear evidence of straightforward association between magnesium serum concentration and treatment response or comorbidity.