Eight sessions of intranasal esketamine, given weekly, helped patients with lung cancer and major depression quit smoking. Self-reported continuous abstinence at six months was 44.1% in the esketamine group, and biologically verified abstinence was 28.8%. Depression and anxiety severity also improved, along with cognitive function, nicotine dependence, urge to smoke, and respiratory symptoms. No serious adverse events occurred. The trial indicates esketamine is a safe and effective aid for smoking cessation in this population.
A single dose of esketamine given intravenously around the time of cesarean section, followed by 24 hours of low-dose esketamine in patient-controlled pain relief, reduced the overall incidence of postpartum depression within three months after childbirth in first-time mothers who were not already depressed. The total rate of postpartum depression was 11.59% in the esketamine group versus 20.89% in the saline control group. The benefit was most evident at 7 days postpartum, with no significant differences at 1, 2, or 3 months individually. Mild side effects like dizziness, hallucination, and dissociation occurred in some women. The treatment appears relatively safe and prevents postpartum depression in the short term.