How does ketamine elicit a rapid antidepressant response?
A single sub-psychotomimetic dose of ketamine, an ionotropic glutamatergic n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, produces a fast-acting antidepressant response in patients suffering from major depressive disorder. Depressed patients report alleviation of core symptoms within two hours of a single low-dose intravenous infusion of ketamine with effects lasting up to two weeks. The rapidity of ketamine action...
