Research shows why ketamine is an effective antidepressant but memantine is not

Ketamine is a fast-acting antidepressant. However, it can create symptoms that mimic psychosis. Therefore, doctors don’t give it to depressed patients. Memantine, a similar drug, does not have psychotomimetic effects, but it also does not appear to alleviate depression. Lisa M. Monteggia of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and her colleagues have determined that these drugs have different effects on neurotransmitter pathways. In particular, ketamine promotes the expression of neurotrophic factors but memantine doesn’t. The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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