Ketamine and depression: a narrative review
Drug Design, Development and Therapy August 1, 2019 Alexandrine Corriger, G. Pickering 197 citations
Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, produces a rapid antidepressant effect within 24 hours that lasts one to two weeks after a single low-dose infusion, though longer-term effects are not well documented. It does not appear to improve depressive symptoms when used as an anesthetic adjuvant before electroconvulsive therapy. Safety and tolerability at low single doses are generally good, but data on repeated or higher doses are lacking. Intranasal (S)-ketamine has been approved for depression. The overall level of evidence for efficacy remains low, and more randomized controlled trials are needed.