Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting an estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States alone.

Although antidepressants have been available for decades, they often come with unpleasant side effects and can take weeks to start working. However, a new generation of depression drugs promises to be faster-acting and have fewer side effects.

What are the new depression drugs?

The new depression drugs are called “rapid-acting antidepressants.” They work differently from traditional antidepressants, which increase levels of serotonin or norepinephrine in the brain over time.

Rapid-acting antidepressants target a different chemical in the brain called glutamate, which is involved in the brain’s ability to form new connections. These drugs help the brain form new connections more quickly and effectively, leading to faster relief of depression symptoms.

Ketamine

Ketamine is one of the most well-known rapid-acting antidepressants. Originally used as an anesthetic, it was discovered to have antidepressant effects in the mid-2000s.

Ketamine has been shown to produce rapid relief of depression symptoms, sometimes within hours of the first dose. It is administered as an infusion, with the patient monitored closely for safety.

Esketamine

Esketamine is a relative of ketamine that has also been shown to have rapid antidepressant effects. It is administered as a nasal spray and was approved by the FDA in 2019 for use in people with treatment-resistant depression.

Esketamine can cause side effects, including dissociation, nausea, and sedation, but these are generally mild and short-lived.

Brexanolone

Brexanolone is another new depression drug that was approved by the FDA in 2019. It is unique in that it is administered as an intravenous infusion and is used specifically to treat postpartum depression in women.

Brexanolone has been shown to produce rapid relief of depression symptoms and can help new mothers recover more quickly from postpartum depression.

How do these drugs differ from traditional antidepressants?

Traditional antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), take several weeks to start working.

They work by increasing levels of serotonin or norepinephrine in the brain over time, which can lead to symptom relief. However, the slow onset of action and potential side effects can be difficult for some patients to tolerate.

Rapid-acting antidepressants, on the other hand, act more quickly and have been shown to provide relief of depression symptoms within hours or days.

They work by targeting different chemical pathways in the brain, such as the glutamate pathway targeted by ketamine and esketamine. This makes rapid-acting antidepressants a promising new option for people who do not respond to traditional antidepressants or cannot tolerate their side effects.

What are the side effects of rapid-acting antidepressants?

Like all medications, rapid-acting antidepressants can cause side effects. However, these side effects are generally milder than those associated with traditional antidepressants.

Side effects may include dissociation, nausea, sedation, and changes in blood pressure. Patients receiving these drugs are closely monitored for safety, and any side effects are typically short-lived and resolve on their own.

Conclusion

The new generation of depression drugs offers hope for faster and more effective relief of depression symptoms.

Rapid-acting antidepressants, such as ketamine, esketamine, and brexanolone, have been shown to work more quickly than traditional antidepressants and have milder side effects. If you are struggling with depression and traditional treatments have not worked for you, talk to your doctor about whether rapid-acting antidepressants may be an option for you.