Oral esketamine for patients with severe treatment-resistant depression: Effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of a six-week open-label treatment program.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) April 25, 2025 Jolien Ke Veraart, Sanne Y Smith-Apeldoorn, Annemarie van der Meij et al. 6 citations
Oral esketamine, taken twice weekly for six weeks at doses from 0.5 to 3 mg/kg, reduced depressive symptom severity in adults with severe treatment-resistant depression who had not benefited from an average of 8.1 prior antidepressant trials and, in 63% of cases, electroconvulsive therapy. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores dropped from 21.2 to 15.8. Nearly half of participants achieved a clinically meaningful improvement, 26.8% responded, and 15.6% remitted. Side effects were common but well tolerated, with a 7.6% dropout rate and no significant urinary or cognitive adverse effects. Treatment continued beyond six weeks in 45.9% of participants to maintain gains.