Ketamine: Quick Fix for Severe Depression?
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Ketamine, a prescription drug that has been used as an anesthetic for decades and gained popularity on the street as “Special K,” is being tested in Houston as a quick fix to severe depression.
Researchers at the Neuro Psychiatric Center next to Ben Taub General Hospital are testing one infusion of ketamine for its short-term effects in treating depression.
If the study’s results are successful, a second study will administer ketamine three times a week to patients to test the drug’s long-term effects.
“This is supposed to help for a couple months. The study is still under way, so it’s hard for us to know now how long the effects will last. Will it cure depression for a year or longer? I don’t think so. But we’re hoping it will work for a few months in the second trial,” said Dr. Asim Shah, who directs the mood disorder program at Ben Taub General Hospital.
Shah said so far the results are promising, but using ketamine to treat depression is not yet FDA approved.
Anti-depressants like Prozac or Celexa usually take at least a few weeks to start working. During that time, patients are more susceptible to suicide.
“Sometimes what happens is that a person’s energy improves before their mood improves. So if you still feel horribly depressed and hopeless, but have a return of your energy, your risk of being suicidal increases,” said Dr. Ken Robbins, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“If it pans out that a shot of ketamine will temporarily pull someone out of their depression, that would still be incredibly helpful. If someone is feeling horrible to the point where you’re concerned they’re suicidal, this could fill the time lapse that regular anti-depressants take to kick in,” Robbins said.
Ketamine is administered intravenously, and so it is being tested to be used at hospitals and psychiatric facilities.
“It’s something that needs to be administered to you. I don’t know how it would potentially be used if it turns out to have long-term benefits,” Robbins said.
The researchers at Ben Taub are working on a few other studies as well, including testing a pill form of a drug similar to ketamine.
But it would be at least a couple of years before the drug is available, if the studies are successful.
“This research is really exciting, but it’s in its infancy,” Robbins said.
Learn more about this and other investigative treatments for depression at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation.
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Everyone knows this stuff is a drug that is very popular on the streets….this is stupid…you are promoting illegal use of the drugs…What is america coming to?!
Posted by: dallasobvious | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 6:16 pm
@DALLASOBVIOUS – Ummm… You do realize that if it becomes FDA approved it will not be illegal, though it will likely still be a controlled substance right?
Posted by: someguy | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 8:09 pm
@Dallasobvious: They aren’t promoting illegal use. They are doing clinical trials, which ARE legal. Duh! Ketamine is used every day in the veterinary world. Just because something is abused by a drug user doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its place in medicine. Most drugs started out with a pharmaceutical use. Loser junkies take it to a new level.
Posted by: KK | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 8:17 pm
Safe for cats and sub-human primates? When will a version for caucasians be available?
Posted by: WhiteKnight | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 8:29 pm
There is a problem with our system. This is just another sample of how are system rewards companies with money for FDA approval, instead of a system based on best drug for the problem. There are a lot of drugs prescribed in the US for off label use, lots of drugs used with out a doctors prescription. Lets fix the system instead of helping people make money on so called illegal drug use.
Posted by: Michelle | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 8:32 pm
I am the type of person who could benefit greatly from the proper use of this. I know that this is used extensively for recreational purposes, especially in Canada. However, I have battled with severe depression for nearly 20 years while going on and off medications and have attempted suicide during these periods at least 3 times. This could change my life if it were approved. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Posted by: Pete | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 8:58 pm
we can have studies that use special k to decrease depression, yet marijuana is still illegal…
Posted by: brett | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 9:08 pm
Considering that depression is the single leading cause of lost productivity in the world, I would think that new and effective ways of treating it would looked upon as a good thing. While it has not been proven safe and effective to FDA standards, from what I have seen and heard the data are promising and worth futher investigation. How else will we know if we are on to something?
Posted by: Schmidlap | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 9:17 pm
Just like a drug company, when they spend money developing a drug and it’s negative effects become known they try to use it for something else that it wasn’t intended for. Anything to make a buck.
Posted by: sbul | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 9:54 pm
So you are going to give a whole bunch of suicidal depressives a drug that has an addiction level similar to crack. . . And this makes sense because. . .
Posted by: Rayne | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 10:06 pm
So you are going to give a whole bunch of suicidal depressives a drug that has an addiction level similar to crack. . . And this makes sense because. . .
because our son who committed suicide two years ago would still be alive and we could enjoy his company again and treat his potential addiction. Oh what I would give……….
Posted by: Neil | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 10:19 pm
This is ridiculous! Of course big pharma companies would like to blast you with Special K to get you so high you forget whatever the hell depressing thoughts you’ve been having. But News Flash!!! Drugs don’t fundamentally change your negative thoughts, this is something you can only do from within yourself! I went through depression for years and got off all this drugs that didn’t work and had to change my way of perceiving things and that meant examining my core beliefs about myself. People need psychotherapy more than a special k fix. only a completely backasswords society would support this over natural methods, people should be educated not medicated!!!!
Posted by: nick | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 10:30 pm
We’ve been using Ketamine before we intubate patients because there is a national shortage of Etomidate. I wouldn’t recommend it as a “quick fix” though, but who am I to recommend anything.
Posted by: David H. | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 10:42 pm
I would think the fact that is used on the street is probably a valid scientific proof that it actually works. While there are undoubtedly some highly dangerous drugs on the street, I have sneaking suspicion that the legal system probably does more to destroy people lives in incidents related to drug abuse than the drugs themselves.
Posted by: DavidPun | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 10:51 pm
NMDA antagonists, such as Ketamine, are known for building up tolerance. So now not only does your depression come back, but now you’re addicted to Ketamine. This is starting to sound like something that will make depression worse in the long run.
Posted by: The Lightning Stalker | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 11:44 pm
How stupid are you people? They’re not taking a street drug and using it medically-Ketamine was a widely used amnesiac used in conscious sedation long before people started using it on the street. How is this possibly promoting illegal drug use? By your reasoning, I guess Dr.s should stop prescribing narcotic analgesics for patients in pain, since OxyContin is pretty popular on the street, as well. Also, this is not a drug company wasting money, creating a new drug, this is a medical facility researching the potential for a new use for an existing drug, which by the way, won’t make “Big Pharma” much richer, since it’s been around so long, it’s available in generic form at a fairly inexpensive cost.
Posted by: H3sMommy | January 31, 2012 January 31, 2012, 2:43 am
They would rather try and make this legal for depression and not marijuana. Wow this sounds like a great idea
Posted by: That Guy | January 31, 2012 January 31, 2012, 9:12 am
Hey, “Special K” sure made me happy back during my club hopping days! If you never tried it, don’t knock it!!!
Posted by: Manda | January 31, 2012 January 31, 2012, 9:51 am
Nothing fixes my depression like horse tranquilizer.
Posted by: snewsom2997 | January 31, 2012 January 31, 2012, 11:50 am
THE FOLKS KNOCKING THIS ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT IN A DEEP DEPRESSION. IT IS A DESPERATE SITUATION WITH DEATH AS A POSSIBLE OUTCOME.
Posted by: DAVE H. | January 31, 2012 January 31, 2012, 3:55 pm
Are more people welcomed for the trial? Can you state the name of this new experimental medication?
Posted by: dragonfly | February 2, 2012 February 2, 2012, 7:07 pm
Your story promoting Ketamine is amazingly irresponsible. Surely Dr. Besser must know that an anecdote about one persons’ ‘miraculous’ response is not evidence of efficacy or safety. This story pandered to the wish for a miracle cure for a serious and potentially fatal illness- by promoting an unproven drug with potential serious side effects- its a shameful display of tabloid journalism. Your audience deserves better.
Posted by: mark friedman, md | February 2, 2012 February 2, 2012, 8:25 pm
I have suffered with chronic mild to severe depression since going through menopause. Though I’ve tried Welbutrin, Serzone, Luvox, etc. nothing has helped without making me feel lake a zombie. There have been a few things that helped temporarily. (1) For about 24 hours I was 100% where I want to be after being given an intravenous infusion of a Vitamin B Complex that included Vitamin C and Magnesium. This was given for tiredness. Another infusion a week later had only a little of the effect. (2) Airbourn taken 4 tablets per day helps a lot for a few days, effects wearing off (3) The two products that helped best were removed from the market. I’d love to know how to get more of either. I saved the empty bottles for the lists of ingredients. They were Bayer Nutritional Science Vital Sharp Mind And Ricola Herbal Health Active Memory Formula. If anyone has information of this subject I’d be very interested.
Posted by: Artie | February 3, 2012 February 3, 2012, 11:41 am
My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief as this story was reported. Our Grandson just overdosed on this stuff and may have permanent damage to his kidneys and has paralysis in his arm due to sleeping on it for a very long time. This is bad stuff.
Posted by: Kathie | February 3, 2012 February 3, 2012, 12:17 pm
Ketamine is not only used for veterinary puposes…it currently used for people as well…at least in hospitals. I was given Ketamine in the E.R. for a severe asthma attack before I was intubated.
Posted by: JustJules | February 5, 2012 February 5, 2012, 10:02 pm