Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10298839 | European Neuropsychopharmacology | 2015 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
Ketamine, a rapid-acting antidepressant and anti-suicidal agent, is thought to increase brain monoamine levels by enhancing monoamine release or inhibiting presynaptic monoamine-reuptake. Here we present two female inpatients suffering from treatment-resistant depression with recurrent severe suicidal crises receiving a combination of intravenous S-ketamine and oral tranylcypromine, which is a well-known irreversible monoamine oxidase(MAO) inhibitor. Since inhibition of monoamine-reuptake with concurrent blockade of MAO might trigger sympathomimetic crisis, this combination is considered hazardous. Nonetheless, cardiovascular parameters remained stable in both patients, while good anti-suicidal effects were observed. Hence, we put serious doubt on whether monoamine-reuptake inhibition is a relevant pharmacological effect of ketamine in humans.
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Authors
Lucie Bartova, Sonja E. Vogl, Mara Stamenkovic, Nicole Praschak-Rieder, Angela Naderi-Heiden, Siegfried Kasper, Matthaeus Willeit,