poledriver
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
- Messages
- 11,543
Ketamine depression treatment should be rolled out'
Doctors trialling the use of ketamine to treat depression are calling for the treatment to be rolled out.
Ketamine is licensed to be used as an anaesthetic but has a reputation as an illegal party drug.
Writing in The Lancet Psychiatry, Dr Rupert McShane, who has led a trial in Oxford, since 2011 says ketamine can work on patients with depression "where nothing has helped before".
However, he is calling for a national registry to monitor its use.
Dr McShane says tens of thousands of people who have not responded to other treatment could be helped by the drug.
But he adds there should be a national registry for those who prescribe the treatment to monitor the results and avoid misuse of the Class B substance.
Of the 101 people taking part who had failed to find a successful depression treatment, 42 of them responded to the ketamine.
"The first ketamine infusion literally saved my life," says Angela, a 42-year-old teacher.
"I had felt so desperate I was going to end it all.
"Subsequent ketamine treatment has enabled me to return to my job full-time. I still struggle at times but being able to work again has given me such a boost."
CONT -
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-3950...=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=twitter
Doctors trialling the use of ketamine to treat depression are calling for the treatment to be rolled out.
Ketamine is licensed to be used as an anaesthetic but has a reputation as an illegal party drug.
Writing in The Lancet Psychiatry, Dr Rupert McShane, who has led a trial in Oxford, since 2011 says ketamine can work on patients with depression "where nothing has helped before".
However, he is calling for a national registry to monitor its use.
Dr McShane says tens of thousands of people who have not responded to other treatment could be helped by the drug.
But he adds there should be a national registry for those who prescribe the treatment to monitor the results and avoid misuse of the Class B substance.
Of the 101 people taking part who had failed to find a successful depression treatment, 42 of them responded to the ketamine.
"The first ketamine infusion literally saved my life," says Angela, a 42-year-old teacher.
"I had felt so desperate I was going to end it all.
"Subsequent ketamine treatment has enabled me to return to my job full-time. I still struggle at times but being able to work again has given me such a boost."
CONT -
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-3950...=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=twitter