The results of a randomized controlled trial published Monday showed oral ketamine tablets were safe and effective for patients with treatment-resistant depression — the latest attempt by researchers to rigorously evaluate psychedelic drugs’ role in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In the Phase 2 trial, the findings of which were detailed in Nature Medicine, patients who took extended release ketamine tablets at a 180-milligram dosage twice weekly showed a “statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms” compared to a placebo. Other dosages saw less of an impact.
The study, sponsored by New Zealand-based Douglas Pharmaceuticals, is a step toward gathering evidence that could eventually be presented to federal regulators in search of approval for depression treatment, though researchers would still need to complete much larger studies first.