Efficacy of Oral Ketamine in Patients with Depression and Suicidality: A Retrospective Study.
Indian journal of psychological medicine January 22, 2026 Zaid Ahmad Wani, Rajnish Raj, Shabir Ahmad Dar et al.
In a retrospective study of 41 patients in India with major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, or suicidal ideation, oral ketamine therapy was associated with significant reductions in both depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. Depression severity, measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, decreased by an average of 8.19 points, and suicidal ideation, measured by the Modified Scale for Suicidal Ideation, decreased by an average of 4.95 points after three sessions. Common side effects included dizziness, nausea, and hypertension; diarrhea was least common. The findings suggest oral ketamine is an effective and well-tolerated rapid-acting option for reducing depressive symptoms and suicidality, suitable for outpatient use in the Indian context.