Basic aspects of ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression - a review paper
Quality in Sport July 28, 2024 Weronika Szafrańska, Dominika Poborowska, Tomasz Gańko et al.
Ketamine, a drug long used in anesthesiology, shows potential for treating drug-resistant depression. Its effectiveness depends on form and dosage, with racemic and higher doses offering greater benefits. Ketamine's efficacy is comparable to electroconvulsive therapy, and its antidepressant effects begin faster than traditional medications, reducing suicide risk more quickly. The mechanisms are not fully understood, but effects on brain neuroplasticity may contribute to the rapid action. Growing evidence supports ketamine's use for treatment-resistant depression, leading to FDA approval of esketamine for this purpose in 2019.