Depression: Can Ketamine Be The Cure?

As I conducted further research on my junior theme topic, depression, I came across this interesting article about a new, fast acting, potential anti-depressant. However, it is not what you may expect. In a recent Newsweek article, Victoria Bekiempis, explains that "A new, fast-acting antidepressant that works like the infamous club drug ketamine could elevate mood in just 24 hours" (Bekiempis). Ketamine? Special K? It couldn't be...

Oh but it is. Anti-depressants are effective, but only to patients who are majorly depressed, and those results take up to a month to actually formulate. So, if a suicidal individual needs immediate medical care, how could they wait any longer before a possible, positive outcome with the usual anti-depressants? It appears, even though the research has only been tested on animals due to FDA regulations, that ketamine may actually be an overnight cure. Along with psychotherapy, ketamine may be the cure to depression...

Now I hate saying the word cure, especially for an illness as complex as depression. But the research looks optimistic, and there are not many people opposed. If someone can receive as much, if not more, progress in his or her depression within a matter of days, rather than weeks, I would consider that a plus. But, like most things related to mental illness, only time will tell. And only when the big pharmaceutical companies find a financial gain in supplying ketamine, rather than Prozac or Zoloft, will they begin to actually invest in it.

What do you think? Please leave your comments below!