Oral Ketamine in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Cancer
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2015-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Depression is common in patients with cancer. Current medications for depression, while
effective, take several weeks to take effect. Ketamine has emerged as a drug with promise for
cancer patients. In two reported cases, a single dose of ketamine induced rapid and
moderately sustained symptom reduction in depression and anxiety with no adverse side
effects. Benefit was seen in as little as 1 hour and sustained up to 30 days. This study is a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation testing whether a single dose of
ketamine improves depression and anxiety relative to placebo in patients with cancer.