1731 results for "Ketamine"
Ketamine disrupts gaze patterns during face viewing in the common marmoset
bioRxiv Preprint Server – February 16, 2021
Summary
Gaze patterns, crucial for social interaction, are profoundly altered by certain substances. Research shows that ketamine significantly disrupts how marmosets view conspecific faces. Typically, eyes are key. However, after ketamine, marmosets focused more on the snout, and their eye movements became less predictable. This specific disruption in face-viewing, not general eye control, highlights ketamine's value in marmosets for modeling social cognition changes in neuropsychiatric conditions.
Abstract
Faces are stimuli of critical importance for primates. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a promising model for investigations of face pro...
Effects of ketamine on postoperative cognition: a scoping review.
British journal of anaesthesia – July 07, 2025
Summary
A significant number of surgical patients experience cognitive decline. A review of studies on ketamine's impact on brain function after surgery found that while results vary, nearly half of the studies showed positive effects. Researchers examined the use of ketamine, including esketamine and arketamine, to prevent perioperative neurocognitive disorders like postoperative delirium and delayed neurocognitive recovery. While some studies found no benefit, 40% reported reduced incidence or duration of these issues, including postoperative neurocognitive disorder. This suggests potential for ketamine to support brain health during surgery.
Abstract
Postoperative delirium and other forms of perioperative neurocognitive deficits occur commonly in older adult patients. Ketamine, administered eith...
Intranasal Racemic Ketamine Maintenance Therapy for Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Naturalistic Feasibility Study
CrossRef
Summary
Intranasal ketamine shows promise for long-term depression relief, with all five patients experiencing benefits in a novel maintenance program. Over up to 14 sessions across 192 days, with a mean dose of 220 mg, participants showed decreased depressive symptoms and improved quality of life. The treatment proved feasible and well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events. Minor side effects included anxiety and nausea. This innovative hospital-to-outpatient approach offers a potentially safe and effective option for severe, treatment-resistant depression.
Abstract
Abstract Background Ketamine is a promising therapy for treatment-resistant depression due to its rapid onset, although benefits are often transito...
International pooled patient-level meta-analysis of ketamine infusion for depression: In search of clinical moderators
Molecular Psychiatry – September 07, 2022
Summary
Ketamine robustly reduces symptoms of Major depressive disorder, particularly for treatment-resistant depression. An analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials (809 patients) found ketamine significantly improved depression severity on rating scales like the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Acute effects were substantial (beta=0.58) compared to placebo. This medicine's antidepressant benefits were greater for patients failing at least two prior antidepressant medications. Despite this extensive clinical trial in psychiatry and psychology, no patient-level features emerged to guide personalized Ketamine treatment, a crucial mental health research topic.
Abstract
Abstract Depression is disabling and highly prevalent. Intravenous (IV) ketamine displays rapid-onset antidepressant properties, but little is know...
Treadmill Exercise Training Ameliorates Apoptotic Cells and DNA Oxidation in the Cerebral Cortex of Rats Exposed to Chronic Ketamine Abuse.
Addiction biology – March 01, 2025
Summary
Regular exercise emerges as a powerful tool against ketamine addiction, offering hope for brain recovery. New findings show that consistent treadmill exercise reduces brain cell death and DNA damage caused by ketamine abuse. The brain's cortex showed remarkable healing when rats exercised moderately for 8 weeks after stopping ketamine use, with improved antioxidant activity and reduced cell damage.
Abstract
Ketamine abuse damages brain function and structure, increasing reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in the cerebral cortex, but moderate-intensit...
A new module in the drug development process: preclinical multi-center randomized controlled trial of R-ketamine on alcohol relapse.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – May 01, 2025
Summary
A promising breakthrough in addiction treatment reveals that R-ketamine may help prevent alcohol relapse, with particularly strong effects in women. Testing across multiple European centers showed that R-ketamine reduced alcohol consumption in rats without negative side effects. The drug worked twice as effectively in females due to higher plasma concentrations, suggesting dosage adjustments may be needed between sexes for optimal results.
Abstract
The drug development process in psychiatry faces significant challenges due to low reproducibility rates in animal testing, which often leads to tr...
Intranasal racemic ketamine maintenance therapy for patients with treatment-resistant depression: a naturalistic feasibility study.
BMC psychiatry – January 07, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough in treating stubborn depression: Nasal spray ketamine shows promise as a maintenance therapy. In this observational study, five patients with major depressive disorder who hadn't responded to traditional treatments received regular ketamine doses through a nasal spray. All participants maintained stable or improved mood and quality of life over 6 months, with only minor side effects like anxiety and nausea.
Abstract
Ketamine is a promising therapy for treatment-resistant depression due to its rapid onset, although benefits are often transitory, with patients ne...
Subanesthetic Ketamine Ameliorates Activity-Based Anorexia of Adult Mice.
Synapse (New York, N.Y.) – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine, a medication known for its rapid antidepressant effects, shows promise in treating anorexia nervosa by reducing excessive exercise behaviors. In groundbreaking research with adult mice, those treated with ketamine showed significantly less wheel-running activity and maintained healthier body weights compared to untreated mice. The treatment reduced vulnerability to activity-based anorexia without affecting food intake, suggesting potential benefits for preventing relapse in human patients.
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder with the second highest mortality of all mental illnesses and high relapse rate, especially among adult...
An evaluation of the efficacy and side effects of a single dose of ketamine in major depressive disorder.
Postgraduate medical journal – October 14, 2024
Summary
A single dose of ketamine can rapidly lift severe depression symptoms within just 4 hours. This groundbreaking treatment showed remarkable results in 120 patients with major depression, significantly reducing both depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. The improvement lasted at least 24 hours after treatment, with similar benefits seen across gender groups and treatment-resistant cases. While some patients experienced mild side effects, the dramatic mood improvements highlight ketamine's potential as a fast-acting option for those facing severe depression.
Abstract
This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the antidepressant and antisuicidal efficacy of ketamine in patients with unipolar depressio...
Ketamine analgo-sedation for mechanically ventilated critically ill adults: A rapid practice guideline from the Saudi Critical Care Society and the Scandinavian Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine.
Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica – October 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine, a powerful sedative and pain reliever, shows promise as a supplementary treatment for critically ill patients on breathing machines. New practice guidelines, developed by international critical care experts, reveal that while ketamine alone isn't recommended, combining it with other sedatives may reduce time spent on mechanical ventilation. Using the rigorous GRADE methodology, experts found that adding ketamine to standard sedation practices is both safe and potentially beneficial, offering doctors another tool to help their most vulnerable patients.
Abstract
This Rapid Practice Guideline (RPG) aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for ketamine analgo-sedation (monotherapy and adjunct) versus n...
Ketamine for Critically Ill Patients with Severe Acute Brain Injury: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
Neurocritical care – April 01, 2025
Summary
In intensive care units, ketamine shows promise for protecting injured brains. This medication may prevent harmful electrical waves called cortical spreading depression, which can worsen brain injuries. Analysis of five clinical trials revealed that ketamine appears as safe as standard pain medications for critically injured patients, with no significant increase in complications. While early results are encouraging, the evidence suggests ketamine could be a valuable tool for brain injury treatment.
Abstract
Patients with severe acute brain injury have a high risk of a poor clinical outcome due to primary and secondary brain injury. Ketamine reportedly ...
A replication study using the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase®) to evaluate whether an association between ketamine and esketamine and alcohol and substance misuse exists.
Journal of affective disorders – October 15, 2024
Summary
New data reveals contrasting safety profiles between ketamine and esketamine in treating depression. While ketamine showed higher rates of substance use disorder and alcohol abuse reports, esketamine demonstrated lower risks. Analysis of global health data suggests esketamine may be a safer alternative for patients with depression, particularly those with a history of substance use concerns.
Abstract
Ketamine and esketamine are increasingly prescribed in the treatment of resistant mood disorders and persons at risk of suicide. Ketamine is a drug...
Intravenous Ketamine for Cancer Pain: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis Comparing Fixed-Rate Versus Weight-Based Dosing.
Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy – December 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine offers new hope for cancer-related pain management, with nearly half of patients experiencing significant relief. A groundbreaking analysis reveals that simpler fixed-rate dosing works just as effectively as more complex weight-based calculations. Patients with higher initial opioid needs showed better response to ketamine therapy, suggesting it's particularly valuable for those with severe pain. The findings point to streamlined treatment options that could make pain relief more accessible.
Abstract
Although weak evidence exists to support subanesthetic ketamine for cancer pain treatment, successful use may be hindered in the absence of standar...
Experiential Learning with Ketamine: A Mixed-Methods Exploratory Study on Prescription and Perception.
Therapeutics and clinical risk management – January 01, 2024
Summary
Healthcare providers significantly increased ketamine use in critical care during COVID-19, yet many remained uncomfortable with the medication despite hands-on experience. A major hospital study revealed that ketamine use for analgosedation jumped from 2% to 32% of ventilated patients during the pandemic. Despite this surge in practical experience, doctors still cited knowledge gaps and desired more continuing education and protocols to guide its use in critical care.
Abstract
Incorporating unfamiliar therapies into practice requires effective longitudinal learning and the optimal way to achieve this is debated. Though no...
Experiences of Awe Mediate Ketamine's Antidepressant Effects: Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial in Treatment-Resistant Depression.
Biological psychiatry global open science – July 01, 2024
Summary
The profound feeling of awe during ketamine treatment may be key to its remarkable success in fighting depression. In a groundbreaking discovery, patients receiving ketamine infusions reported intense experiences of awe, which directly contributed to their improved mental health. While the drug's psychological effects were measured across multiple dimensions, the feeling of awe emerged as a crucial mediator of positive outcomes, with benefits lasting up to 30 days. Unlike general dissociative effects, awe experiences consistently predicted better results in treating depression.
Abstract
Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, provides rapid antidepressant effects. Although much research has focused on neural and molecular mechanisms...
Sedoanalgesia With Ketamine in the Emergency Department: Factors Associated With Unsatisfactory Effectiveness.
Pediatric emergency care – September 01, 2024
Summary
While ketamine provides effective pain relief for most children in emergency settings, success rates vary significantly based on delivery method and age. Intravenous ketamine proved highly effective, with 90% success at doses of 1-1.5 mg/kg. However, children under age 2 and those receiving intranasal delivery experienced higher failure rates. For procedures like fracture reduction and burn care, proper dosing and administration route are crucial for optimal pain control.
Abstract
Ketamine is a safe and widely used sedative and analgesic in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the response to sedoanalgesia for p...
Functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions and the antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in major depressive disorder.
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists – April 04, 2024
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable antidepressant effects may work by rewiring crucial emotional brain networks. Research shows that this fast-acting treatment alters connections between the amygdala, the brain's emotional center, and other regions in people with major depressive disorder. Multiple ketamine doses improved depression by changing how different parts of the amygdala communicate with areas controlling mood and self-reflection. Brain scans before treatment could help predict who will respond best.
Abstract
Amygdala subregion-based network dysfunction has been determined to be centrally implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Little is known abo...
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Intraoperative Ketamine for Acute Postsurgical Pain after Breast Cancer Surgery: The Moderating Effect of Baseline Temporal Summation of Pain.
Anesthesiology – July 14, 2025
Summary
Some patients feel more pain after surgery due to how their nervous system processes it. A trial explored if intraoperative ketamine could help. While not universally effective for breast surgery pain, it significantly reduced pain in patients showing a higher tendency for central sensitization. This suggests tailoring pain management to individual patient characteristics for better outcomes.
Abstract
Activation of nociceptive pathways by surgical trauma can induce central sensitization, which is associated with greater pain severity and persiste...
Genome-Wide Translatome Analysis Following Low-Dose Ketamine to Reveal Novel Targets for Antidepressant Treatment.
Synapse (New York, N.Y.) – November 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine offers rapid, lasting relief for severe depression. To uncover its molecular secrets, researchers mapped the brain's protein synthesis changes after a low dose of the antidepressant. They found ketamine initiates a specific program of protein creation, impacting key cellular processes. A key discovery was VIPR2, a novel target. Excitingly, activating VIPR2 in specific brain cells successfully produced an antidepressant response, validating a promising new path for targeted depression treatment.
Abstract
Low-dose ketamine is an efficacious antidepressant for treatment-resistant unipolar and bipolar depressed patients. Major depressive disorder patie...
Effect of a Constant Rate Infusion of Ketamine on a Variable Rate Infusion of Xylazine in Standing Horses Undergoing Ventriculocordectomy and Laryngoplasty.
Veterinary sciences – January 12, 2026
Summary
Adding ketamine to xylazine sedation significantly deepened sedation for 51 horses undergoing standing procedures like ventriculocordectomy (VRI). Horses receiving ketamine via continuous rate infusion (CRI) achieved a deeper sedation score (effect size 2.74) compared to those on xylazine alone. Although ketamine did not reduce xylazine requirements (0.8 vs. 0.9 mg/kg/h), it enhanced the quality of standing sedation for horses without increasing ataxia or causing adverse effects, offering a valuable option.
Abstract
Standing sedation in horses provides immobilization and analgesia for surgery while avoiding the high risks of general anesthesia. Ketamine at suba...
Ketamine in depression and electroconvulsive therapy
Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology – October 01, 2021
Summary
A single intravenous dose of 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine, administered over 40 minutes, delivers a powerful, rapid-onset antidepressant effect. This treatment can alleviate depression and suicidal thoughts within hours, with benefits potentially lasting up to a week. Ketamine and its analog esketamine conclusively demonstrate this swift impact, attributed to improved neuroplasticity in key brain areas. Repeated nasal spray esketamine may prevent depression relapse. Ketamine also enhances seizure quality and could diminish cognitive impairment during electroconvulsive therapy.
Abstract
Purpose of review The antidepressant effect of subanesthetic doses of ketamine was recognized 20 years ago. This review briefly summarizes the curr...
Ketamine for depression
OpenAlex – February 10, 2026
Summary
Ketamine shows promise for individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression, with a significant portion of patients reporting years of dissatisfaction with standard treatments. A clinical trial involving 100 participants revealed that higher, individualized doses of oral esketamine led to meaningful improvement in 40% of cases. Notably, ketamine was effective for patients with complex conditions like PTSD and those on maintenance electroconvulsive therapy. Combining ketamine with psychotherapy also demonstrated potential benefits, highlighting the need for careful monitoring and tailored approaches in psychiatric care.
Abstract
This thesis explores the use of ketamine in people with treatment-resistant depression. It starts by examining the concept of treatment-resistant d...
Neuronal Population Effects of Ketamine on Human Brain Organoids
OpenAlex – March 10, 2026
Summary
Ketamine significantly alters human brain organoid dynamics, silencing neuronal networks while maintaining firing rates. In 6-month-old forebrain organoids exposed to 20 μg/mL ketamine, population bursting was abolished, with mean firing rates declining in specific "backbone" units. Functional connectivity decreased globally, indicating a reconfiguration of the network. After chronic exposure, these networks developed tolerance, losing backbone units and becoming less active and interconnected. This innovative organoid platform offers insights into ketamine's effects on neural circuits relevant for treating major depression.
Abstract
Abstract Ketamine’s rapid neuropsychiatric actions emerge from interactions that span receptors, cells, and circuits, but their net effects on huma...
Functional connectivity alterations of the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex by ketamine and the modulation by lamotrigine.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – June 19, 2025
Summary
Brain imaging shows Ketamine's mental health benefits relate to altered brain communication. This study investigated if Ketamine's ability to enhance functional connectivity during resting state and working memory tasks depends on glutamate release. In 75 healthy volunteers, Ketamine significantly boosted beneficial functional connectivity in key brain areas. However, lamotrigine pretreatment prevented these positive changes, indicating Ketamine's effects are tied to glutamate.
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies have linked the beneficial effects of subanaesthetic ketamine doses in psychiatric conditions characterized by chronic stress ...
Sex-Specific Neuropsychiatric Effects of Subanesthetic Ketamine Exposure in Pregnant Mice and Their Offspring.
Cellular and molecular neurobiology – July 19, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, brief ketamine exposure during pregnancy in mice showed unexpected positive effects on offspring. Researchers explored if low-dose ketamine affected pregnant mothers and their offspring. Mothers exhibited less depression-like behavior. Strikingly, male offspring later showed reduced anxiety and depression, a positive outcome linked to changes in the hippocampus. This sex-specific effect was associated with higher levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits in male embryonic brains, suggesting a unique developmental impact. These findings highlight how prenatal influences can shape emotional well-being, particularly stress resilience, in a sex-dependent manner.
Abstract
Depression during pregnancy is often overlooked and undertreated. Ketamine has been shown to exert prompt and sustained antidepressant effects in p...
Toxicological Assessment of Ketamine in Juvenile Zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Toxics – January 24, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's effects on young zebrafish reveal surprising insights about its toxicity and behavioral impact. Using advanced monitoring systems and metabolic analysis (UPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap HRMS), researchers found that zebrafish exposed to ketamine showed reduced movement and altered metabolism. The findings demonstrate clear dose-dependent effects, with higher ketamine levels causing greater behavioral changes, offering valuable insights into drug safety.
Abstract
This study investigates the toxic effects of ketamine on juvenile zebrafish, driven by increasing concerns over ketamine's prevalence and its poten...
Midazolam and Ketamine for Convulsive Status Epilepticus in the Out-of-Hospital Setting.
Annals of emergency medicine – April 01, 2025
Summary
When treating severe seizures outside hospitals, combining ketamine with midazolam stops convulsions in 94% of cases - significantly better than using midazolam alone. This breakthrough finding comes from analyzing hundreds of emergency responses in Florida, where adding ketamine helped an additional 14% of patients recover before reaching the hospital, offering new hope for rapid seizure control.
Abstract
To determine if ketamine, when added to midazolam for the treatment of out-of-hospital seizures, is associated with an increase in the rate of cess...
The impact of ketamine on outcomes in critically ill patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Acute and critical care – February 01, 2024
Summary
In intensive care units, managing pain while preventing delirium remains a critical challenge. Ketamine, a versatile anesthetic, shows promise in critical care settings. Analysis of 12 clinical trials involving 805 critically ill patients revealed that ketamine performed similarly to traditional pain management medications for most outcomes. Notably, patients receiving ketamine experienced lower rates of delirium - a significant finding for intensive care unit practice. While equally effective for pain control, ketamine didn't increase hospital stays or mortality rates.
Abstract
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of ketamine in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We searched for randomized contro...
Efficacy of perioperatively application of ketamine on postoperative depressive symptoms in adult patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.
Journal of affective disorders – May 15, 2024
Summary
A comprehensive meta-analysis reveals that ketamine, while not reducing the overall occurrence of post-surgery depression, significantly improves depression scale scores in surgical patients. The analysis of 29 studies covering 5,327 patients shows that perioperative ketamine administration helps manage postoperative depressive symptoms, offering a promising approach to mental health care during surgical recovery.
Abstract
Whether ketamine used in the perioperative period reduces the risk of postoperative depressive symptoms remains uncertain. We conducted this system...
Ketamine and attentional bias to threat: dynamic causal modeling of magnetoencephalographic connectivity in treatment-resistant depression
medRxiv Preprint Server – February 22, 2021
Summary
A key to rapid depression relief might lie in how brain regions communicate. Researchers explored how `ketamine` impacts `brain activity` in `treatment-resistant depression`. They found `ketamine` significantly reduced `depressive symptoms`. Advanced imaging revealed `ketamine` altered neural pathways, including faster AMPA transmission in the visual cortex, which strongly correlated with improved `mental health`. This illuminates how `ketamine` positively reconfigures `brain activity` to alleviate severe depression.
Abstract
The glutamatergic modulator ketamine rapidly reduces depressive symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) an...
Ketamine treatment effects on DNA methylation and Epigenetic Biomarkers of aging
medRxiv Preprint Server – September 10, 2024
Summary
Did you know psychiatric conditions like depression and PTSD are linked to accelerated biological aging? A recent investigation explored how ketamine infusions impact this. In individuals with depression or PTSD, a short course of ketamine not only significantly reduced symptoms but also positively influenced several epigenetic biomarkers, indicating a remarkable reduction in biological age. This highlights ketamine's potential to alleviate psychiatric distress and beneficially influence the aging process at a cellular level.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are debilitating psychiatric conditions associated with poor health outcom...
Effect of Ketamine on the Bispectral Index, Spectral Edge Frequency, and Surgical Pleth Index During Propofol-Remifentanil Anesthesia: An Observational Prospective Trial.
Anesthesia and analgesia – November 01, 2024
Summary
During anesthesia, ketamine's impact on brain activity is more nuanced than previously thought. A study involving 14 patients found that while ketamine deepens sedation, key measures of brain activity didn't peak at the highest drug concentration. Instead, these positive changes in brain activity were most pronounced at lower ketamine levels, several minutes after the initial dose. This reveals a delayed, concentration-dependent effect of ketamine on the brain during medical procedures, offering valuable insights. Pain response indicators, however, remained unaffected.
Abstract
Ketamine administration during stable propofol anesthesia is known to be associated with an increase in bispectral index (BIS) but a "deepening" in...
A Novel Tertiary Carbamate Prodrug Strategy to Overcome Metabolic Barriers in Oral Ketamine Delivery.
ChemMedChem – January 01, 2026
Summary
Developing an effective oral ketamine treatment for depression is challenging. A new ketamine prodrug, engineered for improved oral administration and reduced abuse risk, showed limited success. In mice, pharmacokinetics revealed very low bioavailability, with oral doses yielding only low levels of released ketamine in the body. Lab tests detected no ketamine release from the prodrug. This design requires optimization to enhance bioavailability and achieve therapeutically meaningful ketamine delivery.
Abstract
Ketamine, a rapid-acting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has therapeutic potential beyond anesthesia, including treatment-resistan...
Comparative antidepressant effects and safety of intravenous racemic ketamine, psilocybin and theta burst stimulation for major depressive disorder: A systematic review and network meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports – December 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, and Ketamine, used in Anesthesia and Pharmacology, show superior antidepressant effects for Major depressive disorder compared to theta burst stimulation. A meta-analysis of 28 Randomized controlled trials revealed both drugs, central to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, surpassed Placebo. While Tolerability and Adverse effect profiles were similar, Ketamine demonstrated a rapid onset for Treatment of Major Depression. This Medicine review, relevant to Psychology and Psychiatry, suggests these agents hold significant promise, though further Internal medicine investigation into Psilocybin is warranted.
Abstract
Abstract The individual efficacy and safety of intravenous racemic (IV) ketamine, psilocybin, and theta burst stimulation (TBS) for major depressiv...
Paramedic analgesia comparing ketamine and morphine in trauma (PACKMaN): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial.
The Lancet regional health. Europe – June 01, 2025
Summary
When treating severe trauma pain, paramedics now have evidence comparing two powerful options. In a major UK prehospital study, EMS providers administered either ketamine or morphine to 449 patients in ambulances. Both medications proved equally effective for pain control, with similar safety profiles. While ketamine didn't outperform morphine as hoped, it remains a viable alternative for paramedics treating acute trauma pain.
Abstract
Paramedics frequently administer analgesic medications for pain following trauma. Morphine is the most commonly administered strong analgesic. Howe...
The ketamine chameleon: history, pharmacology, and the contested value of experience.
Expert review of clinical pharmacology – March 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable versatility in medicine spans from battlefield anesthesia to breakthrough depression treatments. This unique compound's effects shift dramatically based on dosage and context - acting as a medical chameleon. While biomedical psychiatry initially viewed its psychoactive effects as merely dissociative, modern neuroscience and psychedelic psychiatry recognize these experiences as potentially therapeutic, especially when paired with proper support and preparation.
Abstract
Since its synthesis in 1962, ketamine has been widely used in diverse medical contexts, from anesthesia to treatment-resistant depression. However,...
Ketamine's Amelioration of Fear Extinction in Adolescent Male Mice Is Associated with the Activation of the Hippocampal Akt-mTOR-GluA1 Pathway.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) – May 22, 2024
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in treating fear-related disorders by enhancing the brain's ability to overcome fearful memories. New research reveals that this drug activates specific pathways in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during adolescence, a critical period for emotional development. The findings demonstrate that ketamine helps young brains better process and reduce fear responses through mTOR signaling, offering hope for more effective anxiety treatments.
Abstract
Fear-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders are pervasive psychiatric conditions marked by persi...
Ketamine in clinical practice: transitioning from anesthetic agent to psychiatric therapeutic.
CNS spectrums – June 30, 2025
Summary
Once primarily an anesthetic, ketamine is now recognized for its remarkable rapid antidepressant effects, particularly in severe depression. This versatile agent, despite its challenges as a recreational drug, offers a novel approach to mood regulation. Its medical utility extends beyond anesthesia to pain management and potential anti-inflammatory benefits, showcasing its significant positive impact and evolving role in modern medicine.
Abstract
Ketamine, originally synthesized in 1962, has gained increasing attention due to its rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in treatment-resist...
Alternating intravenous racemic ketamine and electroconvulsive therapy in treatment resistant depression: A case report
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2017
Summary
Remarkable relief from severe, chronic depression and suicidal thoughts emerged within the first week for one patient unresponsive to numerous previous treatments. This novel approach involved alternating electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and ketamine infusions. The individual, suffering from treatment-resistant depression affecting 10-30% of depressed patients, received 9 ECT sessions and 7 ketamine infusions, administered 2-3 times weekly. A stable mental state was achieved and maintained post-discharge, suggesting a powerful option for complex cases.
Abstract
IntroductionTreatment resistant depression (TRD) affecting approximately 10–30% of all depressed patients often remains misdiagnosed and undertreat...
Ketamine as a Bridge Therapy: Reducing Acute Suicidality in Hospital Settings
Healthcare – March 03, 2026
Summary
Ketamine shows potential as a rapid treatment for acute suicidality, offering relief within hours compared to the 2-6 weeks required for traditional SSRIs. With suicide rates rising in the U.S., this is a crucial public health concern. A review of literature, including data from MEDLINE and PsycINFO, highlights that supervised subanesthetic doses of Ketamine pose low risks of addiction, distinguishing its therapeutic use. However, while promising, the proposed "Bridge Protocol" needs extensive validation through rigorous clinical trials before widespread adoption can occur.
Abstract
This narrative literature review explores the clinical use of Ketamine as part of an untested hypothetical model framework for bridge therapy for a...
Hepatobiliary Complications Associated With Ketamine Use: Clinical Insights and Future Directions.
Cureus – May 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine, effective for mood, surprisingly impacts liver health. A review found *side effects of ketamine* include *biliary duct abnormalities* and *drug-induced hepatotoxicity*, potentially causing *liver fibrosis* or *drug-induced liver failure* in *chronic ketamine users*. Positively, stopping ketamine often improves these conditions, and treatments exist. This knowledge is crucial for safe application.
Abstract
Ketamine has been utilized in various medical contexts, particularly for its effects on the nervous system. Over time, its applications have expand...
Are “mystical experiences” essential for antidepressant actions of ketamine and the classic psychedelics?
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience – February 27, 2024
Summary
The rapid antidepressant effects of Ketamine and Psychedelics are transforming Psychiatry. These Drug Studies reveal profound mystical experiences—Ketamine causing dissociation, psychedelics vivid hallucinations—but their therapeutic role is debated in Psychology and Psychoanalysis. While (S)-ketamine's dissociative symptoms aren't linked to its antidepressant properties, (R)-ketamine's efficacy, a distinct chemical synthesis alkaloid, lacks large-scale proof. Understanding how Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, like the 5-HT2A receptor for psychedelics, drives antidepressant action is crucial for psychotherapist practice.
Abstract
Abstract The growing interest in the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of the dissociative anesthetic ketamine and classic psychedelics, s...
The endogenous opioid system in the medial prefrontal cortex mediates ketamine's antidepressant-like actions.
Translational psychiatry – February 12, 2024
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable antidepressant effects are linked to natural opioid activity in the brain's prefrontal cortex. Scientists discovered that ketamine boosts levels of β-endorphin (our body's natural feel-good chemical) and activates opioid receptors in this key brain region. When researchers blocked these opioid signals, ketamine's mood-lifting effects disappeared, revealing how this promising treatment works to fight depression.
Abstract
Recent studies have implicated the endogenous opioid system in the antidepressant actions of ketamine, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear...
Economic evaluation of subcutaneous ketamine injections for treatment resistant depression: A randomised, double-blind, active-controlled trial - The KADS study.
Journal of affective disorders – October 15, 2025
Summary
Ketamine injections offer new hope for patients with treatment-resistant depression, showing both clinical benefits and cost savings in healthcare settings. This groundbreaking analysis tracked 174 patients receiving either ketamine or a control medication over 8 weeks. Results revealed ketamine was more effective and less expensive than traditional treatments from a healthcare perspective, with significant improvements in quality of life.
Abstract
Ketamine is effective for treatment resistant depression (TRD); but cost-effectiveness evidence remains limited. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness...
Association of low-dose ketamine with hallucinations in critically ill patients: a target trial emulation.
Intensive care medicine – May 05, 2025
Summary
Low-dose ketamine, commonly used for pain relief and sedation in intensive care, increases hallucination risk by over 6 times in critically ill patients. Among 7,500+ patients studied, those receiving ketamine for analgesia experienced hallucinations much earlier and more frequently (26% vs 7%) than those who didn't. This important finding helps doctors better balance ketamine's benefits against its potential to trigger delirium and other side effects.
Abstract
Ketamine use is a potentially modifiable risk factor for hallucinations. We aimed to use target trial emulation to investigate the association betw...
Nursing care in ketamine infusions for pain control in adults: a scoping review protocol.
JBI evidence synthesis – April 16, 2025
Summary
Healthcare providers are increasingly turning to intravenous ketamine for innovative pain management, with nurses playing a crucial frontline role. This comprehensive analysis examines how nursing practice impacts patient care during ketamine treatments, from initial patient assessment through monitoring and education. The review spans multiple databases to understand best practices in both hospital and outpatient settings, focusing on safe administration protocols and effective pain management strategies. Results will help standardize nursing care for ketamine infusion therapy.
Abstract
This scoping review will map the available evidence on nursing care provided to adults receiving ketamine infusion for pain management in hospitals...
Redefining Ketamine Pharmacology for Antidepressant Action: Synergistic NMDA and Opioid Receptor Interactions?
The American journal of psychiatry – March 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects may come from an unexpected source: its interaction with both brain opioid and NMDA receptors. While traditionally viewed as just an NMDA blocker, new evidence suggests ketamine's remarkable ability to lift severe depression stems from this dual-action mechanism. This synergistic effect explains why ketamine and esketamine work differently from conventional antidepressants, offering hope for treatment-resistant patients through innovative psychopharmacology approaches.
Abstract
Ketamine is a racemic compound and medication comprised of (S)-ketamine and (R)-ketamine enantiomers and its metabolites. It has been used for deca...
The antidepressant-like activity of ketamine in the rat chronic mild stress model requires activation of cortical 5-HT 1A receptors.
Behavioural pharmacology – June 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable ability to rapidly treat depression may depend on specific brain receptors, offering new hope for faster-acting treatments. In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers found that ketamine quickly reversed depression-like behaviors in rats experiencing chronic mild stress, but only when certain serotonin receptors in the brain's prefrontal cortex remained active. When these receptors were blocked, ketamine lost its antidepressant effects.
Abstract
Ketamine displays efficacious rapid-acting antidepressant (RAAD) activity in the rat chronic mild stress (CMS) model. It rapidly reverses anhedonia...
Effect of intravenous ketamine on suicidality in adults with treatment-resistant depression: A real world effectiveness study.
Psychiatry research – January 01, 2025
Summary
A single ketamine treatment can rapidly reduce suicidal thoughts in adults with hard-to-treat depression. In a Toronto clinic study of 96 patients, ketamine showed remarkable antisuicidal effects, shifting many from active to passive suicidal ideation. Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, researchers found that ketamine's ability to reduce suicidal thoughts worked partially independent of its antidepressant benefits, suggesting a unique protective effect.
Abstract
Suicidal ideation is a significant symptom associated with mood disorders. Ketamine is an emerging treatment with rapid and robust antidepressant a...
Molecular signature underlying (R)-ketamine rapid antidepressant response on anhedonic-like behavior induced by sustained exposure to stress.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior – December 01, 2024
Summary
A breakthrough in depression treatment reveals how (R)-ketamine rapidly reverses anhedonic-like behavior - the inability to feel pleasure. This modified form of ketamine targets specific molecular pathways in the brain, offering hope for major depressive disorder patients. Protein analysis shows it works by regulating stress response, brain cell connections, and inflammation, producing positive effects with fewer side effects than traditional ketamine.
Abstract
Anhedonia induced by sustained stress exposure is a hallmark symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and in rodents, it can be accessed through ...