Anesthetic Drug ‘Ketamine’ Helps Treat Severe Depression

Researchers from the Oxford Health NHS Foundation trust stated that the effects of ketamine, an anesthetic drug primarily used in veterinary practices, could be seen within six hours of infusion in patients having repeated episodes of depression. The drug also nicknamed as 'Special K' was tested on 28 participants who did not respond to traditional antidepressants like Prozac or treatment methods.  For three weeks, all subjects received three to six doses of ketamine, underwent memory tests and were instructed to keep tabs on their mood fluctuations.

Three days after the trial, experts noted that depression scores of nearly 29 percent of the participants dropped by half compared to previous scores. Many patients showed varied response to the treatment and their effects were visible within 25 days to eight months after the trial. The antidepressant potency of ketamine lasted for nearly three weeks and almost, 15 percent of the subjects did not have relapse for more than two months.

Rupert McShane, study author, consultant psychiatrist and researcher at Oxford University said in the press release, "'Ketamine is a promising new antidepressant which works in a different way to existing antidepressants. We wanted to see whether it would be safe if given repeatedly, and whether it would be practical in an NHS setting. We especially wanted to check that repeated infusions didn't cause cognitive problems."

The patients did not report having any side-effects like memory loss, damage to bladder and feel suicidal.  

McShane said, "We've seen remarkable changes in people who've had severe depression for many years that no other treatment has touched. It's very moving to witness. Patients often comment that that the flow of their thinking seems suddenly freer. For some, even a brief experience of response helps them to realize that they can get better and this gives hope."

Ketamine is banned under Class B by the home office to prevent drug abuse and overdose. It is treated as a recreational drug as it known to cause a feeling of detachment from the body and muscles, hallucinations, confusions and panic attacks for a few hours after infusion. The study strictly monitored ketamine intake and the dosage did not exceed 80 milligrams.

McShane told Reuters News, "It's dramatic and it's exciting, and it is a novel mechanism. But it's not about to become a routine treatment,"

More information is available in the journal of Psychopharmacology.