Experimental Drug to Treat Depression Without Narcotic Side Effects
Researchers have revealed that a new pill that slowly releases ketamine can treat those suffering from severe depression without the narcotic side effects of the drug.
Ketamine was first developed in the 1960s as an anesthetic, and its hallucinogenic effects led to its use as a recreational drug for euphoria.
However, increasing research has shown that ketamine is effective for a quarter of people with depression who see little benefit from common antidepressants.
In many countries, ketamine has been prescribed for years to treat depression, but it causes side effects in patients such as high blood pressure and increased heart rate. There are also concerns that medical use of the drug could lead to addiction and emotional detachment.
According to the website “Medical Xpress,” the new pill described in the journal Nature Medicine takes more than 10 hours to break down in the liver.
The study’s lead author, Paul Glue, a researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand, said: “The really interesting feedback from patients is the lack of side effects: no euphoria and no detachment. I don’t think these pills will attract people who misuse ketamine.”
The phase II trial included more than 270 people with depression who had previously tried an average of four different antidepressants.
The study found that more than half of those who took ketamine pills went into remission from depression, while 70% of the placebo group relapsed after 13 weeks.
Previously, some psychiatrists were hesitant to prescribe ketamine for treating depression, fearing that their patients would end up abusing the drug, although one potential benefit of fast-acting ketamine is helping patients with suicidal thoughts.
Now, by eliminating the side effects of ketamine, the slow-release pills can alleviate some of these concerns, but there are still some side effects from the pills, the most common being headaches, dizziness, and anxiety.
