Ketamine May Help Cure Treatment Resistant Depression

Ketamine May Help Cure Treatment Resistant Depression Ketamine is a drug of disrepute and had been associated with numerous instances of date rape in the past. It’s an anesthetic, causing a loss of consciousness and relieving in pain.

Therefore, despite its extensive recreational use, many experts have always insisted on exploiting the drug more for its medicinal abilities. Their claim was supported by a successful phase 3 trial of intranasal esketamine (Janssen) – a left handed isomer of ketamine – along with antidepressants for safe and effective treatment of treatment resistant depression (TRD).

TRD is a form of depression that does not respond favorably to the usual treatment with antidepressants. Antidepressants are currently considered de rigueur for major depressive disorder (MDD) cure. However, in TRD patients there is no observable impact of these medicines.

The study found that patients who had received treatment with antidepressants and esketamine spray had greater improvement in the MontgomeryÅsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score compared to those who had received only antidepressant and placebo. MADRS is key for measuring the severity of depression in a person. The study also revealed that while the response rate of the respondents involved in the survey was 70 percent, the remission rate was a striking 53 percent.

There are many who consider the drug to be a game changer. According to the American Psychiatric Association Secretary Dr. Philip Muskin, the current study was an interesting and novel approach for treating a patient population indifferent to standard treatment.

Side effects of ketamine The drug, however, has noticeable side effects. It is a psychoactive drug and is associated with nausea, dissociation or a feeling of being detached from one’s body, hallucinations, and is also

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responsible for causing a fatal respiratory failure if it is taken in excess or in combination with other equally fatal drugs and alcohol. The drug is also associated with dependency and psychological dependence or cravings when it is used for long.

The nasal spray version, made from an isomer of ketamine, is however associated with lesser risks. This has been reiterated by Dr. Muskin, who says, “. here’s a nasal spray that is a lefthanded isomer of ketamine. And it turns out that this left-handed molecule does not have the psychoactive effects, the psychosis, disassociation, etc., as far as we know.”

The researchers associated with the study also mention that if the drug is approved by the FDA, it could be first new approach for treatment of refractory depressive disorder in around 50 years. However, it is too early to establish ketamine as the first-line of treatment for someone with a depressive disorder, as more research is required before it can be established as a standard treatment.

Secondly, the drug is associated with a high degree of abuse. The tendency to abuse is decidedly higher in those who are coping with a depressive disorder or suicidal tendencies.

Extremely vulnerable, people are ready to experiment with anything. Going by the ruling that ketamine cures, they could end up abusing it in the long run and thereby go from bad to worse.

Also, the outcomes of a separate phase 3 trial on elderly patients were slightly different. The study missed the “primary endpoint of change” by a slight margin, thereby putting a question mark on its efficacy on a population that is more likely to suffer from depression.

Dual diagnosis treatment Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance with high risks of abuse and addiction. It is also responsible for causing withdrawal pangs seen in other drugs. In conditions like depression, it is essential that instead of self-medicating, one seeks help from a medical center of repute. Dual diagnosis, a condition that could arise when one has a mental health condition like depression and a substance abuse problem at the same time, can be tackled with integrated treatment.

If a loved one is showing symptoms of substance abuse or any mental problem or both, it needs to be tackled with umpteen care. There are some specialized dual diagnosis treatment centers that can help and Recover Mental Health, an online resource, can assist you understand your treatment requirements. Call at our 24/7 helpline number (866) 593-2339 to know the best treatment for dual diagnosis.

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