Ketamine—New Possibilities in the Treatment of Depression: A Narrative Review
Mateusz Kowalczyk,
Edward Kowalczyk,
Paweł Kwiatkowski,
Łukasz Łopusiewicz,
Monika Sienkiewicz,
Monika Talarowska
Affiliations
Mateusz Kowalczyk
Babinski Memorial Hospital, Aleksandrowska St. 159, 91-229 Lodz, Poland
Edward Kowalczyk
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego St. 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
Paweł Kwiatkowski
Department of Diagnostic Immunology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
Łukasz Łopusiewicz
Center of Bioimmobilisation and Innovative Packaging Materials, Faculty of Food Sciences and Fisheries, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Janickiego 35, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland
Monika Sienkiewicz
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Microbiological Diagnostic, Medical University of Lodz, Muszyńskiego St. 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
Monika Talarowska
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology, Institute of Psychology, University of Lodz, Smugowa St. 10/12, 91-433 Lodz, Poland
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus epidemic has led to an increase in the number of people with depression. Symptoms related to the mental sphere (mainly depression and anxiety) may be experienced by one third of the worldwide population. This entails the need for the effective and rapid treatment of depressive episodes. An effective drug seems to be s-ketamine, which was accepted in March 2019 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of drug-resistant depression. This drug provides a quick antidepressant effect with maximum effectiveness achieved after 24 h. It also appears to reduce the occurrence of suicidal thoughts. However, research into undesirable effects, especially in groups of people susceptible to psychotic episodes or those who use alcohol or psychoactive substances, is necessary.
