Anesthetic for Depression? Study Finds Low-Dose Ketamine is Effective

Health & Wellness

Anesthetic for Depression? Study Finds Low-Dose Ketamine is Effective

By
Dana Sparks

June 4, 2013

A Mayo Clinic study shows that low-dose intravenous infusions of ketamine, a general anesthetic used in minor surgeries, are an effective treatment for depression. Mayo psychiatrist and co-author Timothy Lineberry, M.D., says, “It’s surprising both that it works and how rapidly it has effects. It sometimes can work in hours to reduce depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Our goal is to begin to determine how the drug can be administered safely in routine treatment.”

The study is published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Click here for news release

Journalists: Edited sound bites with Dr. Lineberry are available in the downloads