Novel mechanisms underlying rapid-acting antidepressants: ketamine-like compounds, neurosteroid GABAkines, and psychedelics.
Drug discovery today June 1, 2025 Sara Castanheira, Catarina Vale Gomes, Joana Bicker et al. 9 citations
Ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects spurred the development of a new class of medications called rapid-acting antidepressant drugs (RAADs), some already approved for clinical use. These drugs work primarily by boosting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or activating GABAA receptors, mechanisms that produce fast and lasting relief from depressive symptoms. This review covers the latest developments in this area of pharmacology and drug discovery.