Repurposing General Anesthetic Drugs to Treat Depression: A New Frontier for Anesthesiologists in Neuropsychiatric Care.
Anesthesiology August 1, 2024 Connor T A Brenna, Benjamin I Goldstein, Carlos A Zarate et al. 19 citations
Anesthetic drugs such as ketamine, nitrous oxide, propofol, and isoflurane show rapid and sustained antidepressant properties, positioning anesthesiologists at a new frontier in treating neuropsychiatric disorders. This article reviews these drugs as novel antidepressants and identifies future candidates for depression treatment. The authors call for collaboration between anesthesiologists and psychiatrists to repurpose anesthetic drugs as antidepressants and address mood disorders in surgical patients.