November 29, 2011

A new study by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has found that the anesthetic drug, Ketamine, has potential for treating depression in low doses.  According to NBC-DFW, the off-label use has been replicated in other small studies over the last ten years.

Lisa Montegio, one of the researchers responsible for the breakthrough, says she and her team have uncovered a new pathway in the brain that may be linked to depression. Small doses of Ketamine given to patients intravenously block that path, thus giving hope for a new generation of anti-depressants. The drug has proven effective in treating patients who have had no luck with other treatments. Another benefit to the treatment is that it can take effect within minutes, whereas current antidepressants can take months to have an effect.

You may be asking what is the downside to the treatment? Ketamine has a high rate of abuse and is known as the illegal party drug “Special K”. Also, the drug must be given by IV and can lead to short-term psychotic episodes.

The Texas Drug Injury Lawyers with Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel are encouraged by the new findings, but believe that with any new drug, many years of research should be done before the treatment–which could have long-term hazards–is available to the general public. If you have suffered from a drug injury, contact us today by filling out a free initial consultation form to discuss your case with our team of attorneys.