Glutamate's Role in Rapidly Acting Antidepressants

Despite differing pharmacodynamics, ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics may share downstream effects crucial to their rapid and sustained antidepressant activity. Both ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) have been studied as novel treatments for depression, particularly Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). Promising results and demonstrated benefits in preliminary research have garnered these compounds much attention. Noted for their rapidity of onset, as well as consistently observed reductions in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, ketamine and SPs alike offer hope where traditional antidepressants may fall short.