Ketamine may hold the key to treating major depression, at least in the short term. The medication boasts a rapid onset of effects compared to other antidepressants. If a person responds favourably to the drug, it can quickly vanquish suicidality and other symptoms of major depression.
Ketamine also helps to combat depression by helping to form new synapses in the brain, in turn improving mood and altering thought patterns.
However, ketamine comes with side effects that can interfere with its therapeutic use, including the tendency to induce involuntary muscle activation (hyperlocomotion).
Recent research conducted at the University of São Paulo in Brazil explored the effects of co-administering ketamine and CBD.
As well as offering its own antidepressant effects, the cannabinoid helped to reduce hyperlocomotion while preserving the antidepressant action.
The researchers concluded, “Our findings suggest that CBD and ketamine’s combined administration can be a promising therapeutic strategy for achieving an appropriate antidepressant effect without unwanted side-effects.”
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