Transcendence
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2006
- Messages
- 2,502
This isn't a question I'm asking for myself, I'm just curious what others think. Do you think dissociatives have a future as a practical alternative to SSRIs in treating major or minor depression?
On one hand there's a very obvious potential for abuse that SSRIs don't have, and those who are depressed are more likely to abuse drugs.
On the other hand, the anti-depressive effect of compounds such as MXE or ketamine is immediate (unlike SSRIs that take several weeks) and there are reports that dissociatives are effective in treating individuals who don't respond to traditional antidepressants.
In an ideal future, I can see dissociatives being used to treat depression analogously to how benzodiazepines are used in treating anxiety. Typically for GAD, a psychiatrist will prescribe a benzo until the SSRI kicks in. Why not prescribe dissociatives for depression until the SSRI kicks in?
*I posted this in PD instead of Healthy Living because I think the regulars here are more likely to have experience with dissociatives, but move if necessary.
On one hand there's a very obvious potential for abuse that SSRIs don't have, and those who are depressed are more likely to abuse drugs.
On the other hand, the anti-depressive effect of compounds such as MXE or ketamine is immediate (unlike SSRIs that take several weeks) and there are reports that dissociatives are effective in treating individuals who don't respond to traditional antidepressants.
In an ideal future, I can see dissociatives being used to treat depression analogously to how benzodiazepines are used in treating anxiety. Typically for GAD, a psychiatrist will prescribe a benzo until the SSRI kicks in. Why not prescribe dissociatives for depression until the SSRI kicks in?
*I posted this in PD instead of Healthy Living because I think the regulars here are more likely to have experience with dissociatives, but move if necessary.

