For patients with treatment-resistant depression who respond to intranasal racemic ketamine in the hospital, continuing the same treatment as an outpatient maintenance therapy appears feasible and well tolerated. In a small pilot program involving five patients who completed up to 14 treatment sessions over 192 days, depressive symptoms decreased or remained stable and quality of life increased or remained stable. The average dose was 220 mg (range 100 to 400 mg). No serious adverse events occurred; reported side effects included anxiety and nausea, and slight blood pressure increases required no intervention. Because of the very small sample, no conclusions about effectiveness can be drawn, and further research is needed.
A small pilot program evaluated a hospital-to-outpatient intranasal racemic ketamine maintenance therapy for treatment-resistant depression. Five adult inpatients who had responded to intranasal ketamine in hospital continued treatment at a community centre, completing up to 14 sessions over 192 days. Depressive symptoms decreased or stabilized, and quality of life increased or stabilized. No serious adverse events occurred; mild side effects included anxiety and nausea, and slight blood pressure increases did not require intervention. The authors conclude the therapy appears feasible and well tolerated, but limited effectiveness conclusions can be drawn from this small study.