Ketamine to Treat Depression?

Popular anesthetic drug Ketamine is being tested as a by American researchers as a possible quick fix to treat depression.

Researchers at the Neuro Psychiatric Center in Houston revealed that they are testing whether a single dose of ketamine can provide a short term benefit of two months in treating depression.

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The researchers added that anti-depressants currently available in the market, such as Prozac or Celexa, require a few weeks before they start to show any effect during which the patients are at a high risk of committing suicide.

Lead researcher Dr Asim Shah said that while ketamine is not expected to provide a long term treatment for depression, he hoped that it will provide a benefit for a few months. “This is supposed to help for a couple months. The study is still under way, so it’s hard for us to know now how long the effects will last. Will it cure depression for a year or longer? I don’t think so. But we’re hoping it will work for a few months in the second trial”, he said.

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Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.

Source-Medindia

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Depression is a common disorder and many worldwide suffer from depression. Early recognition of symptoms and signs of depression can help in taking a holistic approach to the management of depression.