Living with depression can feel like a constant uphill battle, especially when standard treatments do not provide enough relief. New data suggests that oral ketamine might offer a helpful option for those struggling with unipolar, bipolar, or treatment-resistant depression.
Researchers looked at 414 patients to see how oral ketamine compared to placebos and other forms of the drug. The results showed that people taking oral ketamine had significantly lower depression scores than those taking a placebo. Additionally, patients taking oral ketamine were much more likely to reach remission, which means their symptoms improved enough to be considered in remission.
While the evidence shows that oral ketamine is well-tolerated and effective at lowering scores, there are still pieces of the puzzle missing. The study notes that while it works well compared to a placebo, it did not show a significant difference when compared to other forms of ketamine. More research is still needed to figure out the best length of time for treatment.
