Intravenous ketamine for benzodiazepine deprescription and withdrawal management in treatment-resistant depression: a preliminary report.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology November 1, 2023 Nicolas Garel, Kyle T Greenway, Lê-Anh L Dinh-Williams et al. 10 citations
A course of six sub-anesthetic ketamine infusions over four weeks helped patients with treatment-resistant depression discontinue long-term benzodiazepine or z-drug use. Of 22 patients, 91% (20/22) successfully stopped all such medications by the end of the infusions, confirmed by urine tests. Fewer than 25% experienced significant worsening of anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or suicidality during withdrawal. Over a mean follow-up of one year, 64% (14/22) remained abstinent. These preliminary results suggest ketamine infusions may facilitate benzodiazepine deprescription even in patients with active depression and significant comorbidity.