NIH

IV esketamine for augmenting the effects of oral antidepressants: A randomized pilot study

August 22, 2023

When compared with patients who received midazolam, more patients who received a single subanesthetic dose of esketamine experienced a reduction in depression severity by at least 50%, suggesting that esketamine could be used as a potentially effective and safe treatment option for fluctuating antidepressant response.

• This RCT, conducted at Beijing Anding Hospital in China included a total of 30 patients (median age, 28.0 years; 17 [56.7%] female) with major depressive disorder and on suitable oral antidepressants, who still experienced fluctuating symptoms. 15 patients received eskatamine (0.2 mg/kg IV) and 15 patients received midazolam (0.045 mg/kg IV).
• The primary outcome was response rate at 2 weeks, defined as a 50% reduction in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.
• Response rates at two weeks were significantly higher in the esketamine-treated group than in the midazolam control group (10 patients [66.7%] vs 1 patient [6.7%]; P < .001). 
• Depressive symptom reduction in esketamine recipients remained statistically significant at 6-week follow-up.

Source: Xiao, C(2023, August 14). JAMA Network Open. Esketamine vs Midazolam in Boosting the Efficacy of Oral Antidepressants for Major Depressive Disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10425830/