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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

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01-04-2021 | Antidepressant Drugs | Short Communication

Intravenous arketamine for treatment-resistant depression: open-label pilot study

Authors: Gustavo C. Leal, Igor D. Bandeira, Fernanda S. Correia-Melo, Manuela Telles, Rodrigo P. Mello, Flavia Vieira, Cassio S. Lima, Ana Paula Jesus-Nunes, Lívia N. F. Guerreiro-Costa, Roberta F. Marback, Ana Teresa Caliman-Fontes, Breno L. S. Marques, Marília L. O. Bezerra, Alberto L. Dias-Neto, Samantha S. Silva, Aline S. Sampaio, Gerard Sanacora, Gustavo Turecki, Colleen Loo, Acioly L. T. Lacerda, Lucas C. Quarantini

Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Issue 3/2021

Abstract

We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of arketamine, the R(−)-enantiomer of ketamine, for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in humans. Open-label pilot trial, seven subjects with TRD received a single intravenous infusion of arketamine (0.5 mg/kg); primary outcome was change in Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) 24 h after. Mean MADRS dropped from 30.7 before infusion to 10.4 after one day, a mean difference of 20.3 points [CI 95% 13.6–27.0; p < 0.001]; dissociation was nearly absent. Arketamine might produce fast-onset and sustained antidepressant effects in humans with favorable safety profile, like previously reported with animals; further controlled-trials are needed.

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Title: Intravenous arketamine for treatment-resistant depression: open-label pilot study
Authors: Gustavo C. Leal
Igor D. Bandeira
Fernanda S. Correia-Melo
Manuela Telles
Rodrigo P. Mello
Flavia Vieira
Cassio S. Lima
Ana Paula Jesus-Nunes
Lívia N. F. Guerreiro-Costa
Roberta F. Marback
Ana Teresa Caliman-Fontes
Breno L. S. Marques
Marília L. O. Bezerra
Alberto L. Dias-Neto
Samantha S. Silva
Aline S. Sampaio
Gerard Sanacora
Gustavo Turecki
Colleen Loo
Acioly L. T. Lacerda
Lucas C. Quarantini
Publication date: 01-04-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Antidepressant Drugs
Affective Disorder
Affective Disorder
Antidepressant Drugs
Esketamine
Esketamin
Ketamine
Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01110-5

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Intravenous arketamine for treatment-resistant depression: open-label pilot study

Abstract

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