Q. I participated in two clinical trials of ketamine for depression. The infusion was not pleasant, but a few hours later my depression was mysteriously lifted. It was as though someone carefully cleaned, polished and rejuvenated every cell in my brain. It was not a feeling of being high; it was completely different from anything I had ever experienced in my entire life.
Unfortunately, it only lasted a few days. When it went away, the return to life as I had always known it was horrible. They told me up front it is a clinical trial and the drug is not available for depression treatment. But it is an FDA-approved medication. Any MD could prescribe it, but no one has been willing to administer it.
I have felt closer to suicide at times since I found out how good other people feel every day. I hope ketamine will soon be approved for severe depression.
A. Major depression like yours is challenging to treat. It can take weeks for current antidepressants to start working. Clinical trials reveal that only about a third of patients achieve good results, even after optimal therapy (American Journal of Psychiatry, Nov. 2006).
Ketamine (Ketalar) is a unique injectable anesthetic that has been used in surgery since the early 1970s. More recently, scientists have been studying ketamine for the treatment of major depression.
Preliminary studies suggest that ketamine may relieve severe depression within hours for up to two-thirds of those with treatment-resistant depression (Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Feb. 2012). This is still very much an experimental approach that has not been approved by the FDA. Most doctors are probably reluctant to prescribe ketamine for depression because the effect is short lived and the drug can cause hallucinations and changes in heart rate and blood pressure.
For more information on this approach to treating depression, listen to this report from NPR.
You may also find our Guide to Dealing with Depression of value.
Another valuable resource is an interview with Stephen Ilardi, PhD. His insights on depression could be very helpful.
2/14/19 redirected: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/will-fda-approve-esketamine-nasal-spray-for-depression/
