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Rapid-onset antidepressant action of ketamine: potential revolution in understanding and future pharmacologic treatment of depression

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Summary

What is known and objective

The current pharmacotherapeutic treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) generally takes weeks to be effective. As the molecular action of these drugs is immediate, the mechanistic basis for this lag is unclear. A drug that has a more rapid onset of action would be a major therapeutic advance and also be a useful comparator to provide valuable mechanistic insight into the disorder and its treatment.

Comment

Recent evidence suggests that ketamine produces rapid-onset antidepressant action. Important questions are as follows: is it specific or coincidental to other effects; is there a dose–response relationship; and is the mechanism related to that of current antidepressants. NMDA receptor antagonism is unlikely the explanation for ketamine’s antidepressant action.

What is new and conclusion

It is not an exaggeration to state that the new findings, if validated, might produce a revolution in understanding and treating depressive disorders.

Drewniany, E., Han, J., Hancock, C., Jones, R. L., Lim, J., Nemat Gorgani, N., … & Raffa, R. B. (2014). Rapid‐onset antidepressant action of ketamine: potential revolution in understanding and future pharmacologic treatment of depression. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpt.12238
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