Ketamine, a horse tranquiliser that is popular among ravers, could be a new tool to fight depression without many of the side effects of traditional anti-depressants – according to new research
Clinical researchers exploring the medicinal uses of the restricted Class B party drug and horse tranquiliser ketamine have found it can be used to treat depression “within days” with few side effects. With most anti-depressants taking weeks to take effect, while having a plethora of unpleasant side effects, a small dose of “special K” could one day be just what the doctor ordered.
Adding to a growing body of research into the recreational and veterinary drug’s use as an anti-depressant, the phase two trial administered small 120mg and 180mg doses of Ketamine to 168 people in a tablet form. This could be taken at home with a slow release, unlike the current requirement for two hours of supervision in a clinic, though some did report “feeling abnormal.”
The study, published in Nature, found that the slow-release form of the drug was effective in treating depression across age and gender demographics, though it worked better for women and younger people in the trial. As with other research into the Class B substance’s medicinal uses, researchers found that patients responded better to higher doses.
Doses were taken every day for up to 12 weeks, with regular assessments of their mental health. Across demographics, patients receiving the 24-hour release ketamine saw their depression scores fall by around 20 to 30 per cent, with many seeing continued benefits even after the doses stopped.
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Speaking to Medical News Today, Dr. Pamela Walters, a medical director and psychiatrist who works at an unrelated ketamine-assisted psychedelic clinic in Scotland, said: “Traditional medications often take weeks to start working, and there’s usually a period where it ‘gets worse’ before it gets better,
“With ketamine, it can relieve depressive symptoms within hours to days.” The most reported ill effects of the drug were headaches, dizziness, anxiety, nausea, and “feeling abnormal.”
Due to the different mode of delivering the drug, researchers found that the negative side effects of ketamine were reduced, while no physical damage to the patients’ internal organs was discovered.
While ketamine has been found to help with depression symptoms in clinical studies, its uncontrolled recreational use can cause serious permanent damage to the bladder and most of your internal organs. More research is needed before it can be prescribed.
Ketamine’s side effects are:
- Elevated blood pressure
- Elevated pulse (tachycardia)
- Bladder dysfunction
- Liver damage
- Nerve damage
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Dissociation
Speaking to MNT, David Merrill, MD, PhD, geriatric psychiatrist and director of neuroscience at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, explained how ketamine works to combat depression.
He said: “Ketamine acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist, which leads to a cascade of neurochemical events in the brain,” explained Merrill, who was not involved in the study.
By binding to NMDA receptors, “it increases glutamate transmission and promotes synaptic plasticity, which are believed to rapidly alleviate depressive symptoms.”
The drug may also work via other mechanisms. For instance, Merrill told MNT that it affects the brain’s default mode network — an area that is activated when the brain is resting but awake — and reduces inflammation, both of which may help reduce symptoms.
“It may also increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. Something which has also been shown with electroconvulsive therapy.”
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
