SLOW BUT STEADY: ORAL KETAMINE AS AN EFFECTIVE ADJUNCT IN DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND PTSD

Intravenous and intranasal Ketamine have become important options for the rapid relief of symptoms in PTSD, Suicidality and in Treatment Resistant Depression and Anxiety. However, they are costly, require at least an out- patient clinic setting and have relatively short lived benefits. I present a pilot study examining 8 patients treated with oral Ketamine, 5 mg/kg for 12 treatments. Treatment was well tolerated with mild to moderate hypertension and drowsiness the main side effects. Treatment response during the administration phase was minimal to modest at best. Nevertheless over subsequent weeks, 7 subjects experienced significant improvement in symptom severity and daily function which has persisted for nearly 18 months in follow up. One subject dropped out. Oral Ketamine warrants further study as a possible adjunctive treatment in resistant cases.