1. Depression
Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Depression & Suicide Ideation
Major Depressive Disorder
Depression means feeling sad all the time or not being interested in things you used to enjoy. This can cause problems like changes in sleep, appetite, energy, and focus. Sometimes people with depression even think about hurting themselves. Doctors usually give medication called SSRIs to help with depression. But these drugs don't always work, and they can have side effects like feeling sick, tired, or gaining weight.
Benefits of IV Infusions
This safe anaesthetic drug, in infusions, has shown potential as a promising new treatment for depression with rapid onset, high efficacy, and good tolerability at three times less the anaesthetic dose. Recent studies suggest that infusions of this drug can significantly reduce depressive symptoms, including treatment-resistant depression. While concerns about safety and tolerability remain, experts have synthesized available research on the use of this infusion and provided guidance on its implementation in clinical practice. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis further support the use of it in managing depressive symptoms, but more research is needed to fully understand its long-term safety and efficacy.
Bipolar Depression
Bipolar depression is a type of mental illness that affects a person's mood and energy levels. This condition used to be called manic depression because it involves two extreme states: manic episodes and depressed episodes. During manic episodes, a person may experience racing thoughts, talk too much, have delusions, trouble sleeping, be angry and do dangerous things. Depressed episodes involve feeling very sad, having no interest in things, feeling worthless, changes in appetite and even thinking about suicide.
Benefits of IV Infusions
In 2021, researchers conducted a systematic review on the use of infusions in bipolar depression. The study found that it significantly improved depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in patients compared to a placebo. The improvement lasted up to three days, and 79% of patients responded to it while none responded to the placebo. This study confirmed previous findings that these infusions could provide a rapid and strong antidepressant response in patients with bipolar depression, as well as rapidly improving suicidal ideation.
Suicidal Ideation
Suicidality means thinking about taking one's own life or having made a plan to do so. This can happen to anyone, with or without a mental illness. Suicidal thoughts can be categorized as either "active," which means having a plan to commit suicide, or "passive," which means having thoughts of suicide without a specific plan. Suicidal thoughts can be a symptom of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses.
Benefits of IV Infusions
Three systematic reviews were conducted to evaluate the anti-suicidal effects of ketamine. They found that a single dose of this infusion rapidly reduced suicidal ideation in depressed patients with suicidal ideation for up to 1 week, and its effects on suicidal ideation were partially independent of its effects on mood. The IV version of the drug was found to be the most effective formulation. Further research is needed to determine the optimal dosing strategy and long-term efficacy and safety.