Oral Ketamine Shown Effective for Depression, but Slower Than Other Forms of Ketamine

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - April 16, 2019 - PRLog -- Today The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry published a systematic review of current literature on the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and dose range of oral ketamine for the treatment of depression.

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting over 350 million people globally. Intravenous ketamine has rapid and robust antidepressant effects; however, poor accessibility of the IV route often limits its use. Numerous alternative routes of administration are being investigated, including intranasal, which has already been approved by the FDA for depression treatment. Oral ketamine is particularly appealing for its ease of use with the potential for high accessibility.

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic agent that has been investigated for its antidepressant effects over the past 2 decades. Last month the FDA approved the first ketamine product for treatment of depression: intranasal-administered esketamine, indicating the expanding acceptance of ketamine's use in this capacity, as well as the growing interest in new methods of administion.

The object of the current systematic review is to determine the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and dose range of oral ketamine for depression. Additionally, the authors specifficallyl evaluated the evidence for rapid antidepressant effects, antisuicidal effects, and efficacy in treatment-resistant depression, as these are the effects that IV ketamine differentially provides as compared to conventional antidepressants.

Access the entire article, "Oral Ketamine for Depression: A Systematic Review," by Joshua D. Rosenblat, MD; Andre F. Carvalho, MD, PhD; Madeline Li, MD, PhD; Yena Lee, BSc; Mehala Subramanieapillai, MSc; and Roger S. McIntyre, MD; at https://www.psychiatrist.com/JCP/article/Pages/2019/v80/18r12475.aspx.

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed publication that is indexed and abstracted by the National Library of Medicine, is the official publication of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, and is among the top 10 most cited psychiatry journals.