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Health See other Health Articles Title: Ketamine: Quick Fix for Severe Depression? 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. SHOWS: World News Poster Comment: From among comments: Neil | 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!!!! : KK | Safe for cats and sub-human primates? When will a version for caucasians be available? Michelle | 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. brett | 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? sbul | 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. . . RAYNE; 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………. nick | 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. David H. | 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. DavidPun | 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. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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