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.
A new treatment combining ketamine infusions with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) may be feasible for people who have both alcohol use disorder and treatment-resistant depression. In an open-label trial at a Montreal hospital, 30 participants will receive six ketamine infusions plus eight weekly therapy sessions, either in person or online. The study primarily tests whether the combined approach is practical and acceptable by measuring completion rates, safety, and data quality. Exploratory measures will track changes in depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and quality of life. Some participants will also be interviewed about their experiences.