Ketamine’s Antidepressant Effect May Depend on Opioid System

Previous studies of ketamine have focused on glutamate, but the new finding showing activation of opioid receptors shows why repeated use of ketamine may produce tolerance and addiction. The antidepressant effects of ketamine appear to depend on activation of the brain’s opioid receptors, underscoring the drug’s addictive potential, according to a report published this week

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Antidepressants Moving in Pipeline

After much time and investment, several new classes of antidepressants may soon be available. When ketamine was found to exert a rapid antidepressant effect by researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) more than a decade ago, it sparked hope for a new generation of treatments for depressive disorders. Now, new drug candidates

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