Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
February 18, 2021
Mara C. Guimarães, Tiago M. Guimarães, Jaime E. C. Hallak et al.
41 citations
In a small pilot trial, adding nitrous oxide (N2O) to ongoing antidepressant treatment for major depressive disorder produced significantly greater improvement in depressive symptoms than placebo (100% oxygen). After four weeks of twice-weekly 60-minute sessions, depression scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale dropped from an average of 22.58 to 5.92 in the N2O group, compared with a drop from 22.44 to 12.89 in the placebo group. Most participants receiving N2O met criteria for response (91.7%) and remission (75%). Common side effects included nausea, vomiting, and headache. The results suggest N2O may be a useful augmentation strategy for treatment-resistant depression.
BMC Neuroscience
March 5, 2015
Ludmyla Kandratavicius, Priscila Alves Balista, Daniele C. Wolf et al.
40 citations
Nitric oxide donors, especially sodium nitroprusside (SNP), show promise for treating schizophrenia. In a rat model using ketamine to induce schizophrenia-like behaviors, SNP given either before or after ketamine consistently reduced hyperlocomotion. Glyceryl trinitrate and SNP given after ketamine improved long-term memory, while methylene blue given before ketamine also improved long-term memory. The effects depended on whether the drug was administered before or after ketamine, suggesting the timing of treatment matters. These findings indicate that nitric oxide modulation could be a new pharmacological approach for schizophrenia.
Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
June 16, 2026
Daniel B.a. Prado, Matheus T. Rossignoli, Rafael N. Ruggiero et al.
In a rat model of schizophrenia-like symptoms induced by ketamine, the combination of cannabidiol and sodium nitroprusside given during brain development prevented hyperactivity and memory problems in both sexes, while each drug alone had limited effects. The model produced different symptoms in males and females: females showed greater hyperactivity and long-term memory deficits, whereas males showed reduced pleasure-seeking and short-term memory impairments. The combined treatment was more effective in females, and distinct behavioral patterns were seen between sexes. This suggests that a combination of these two compounds may offer a sex-specific preventive strategy for schizophrenia symptoms.