Recruiting

IV Ketamine vs. IN Esketamine for MDD TRD

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the comparative acute effects of ketamine vs esketamine in participants over the age of 18 for the treatment of their severe depression and suicidal ideations. Participants are already taking antidepressants and/or antipsychotics as part of their regular medical care for depression,

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT06488586

PhaseNot Applicable

Enrollment80

SponsorGustavo Vazquez

Age18 Years

SexALL

I'm interested View official listing

Conditions studied

Treatment Resistant Depression

About this study

Interventions

Drug: Low dose IV Ketamine vs. IN Esketamine — For IV ketamine treatment, ketamine is administered at 0.5mg/kg over 40 minutes. For IN esketamine treatment, esketamine is administered as a nasal spray, two sprays per nostril (56mg total) for the first treatment and three sprays per nostril (84mg) for the rest of the acute series. All treatments are administered at the academic center under the supervision of a mental health care professional. Patients are asked to come fasting at least two hours prior to treatment and to remain resting in the treatment room throughout the dosing session. Throughout each dosing session, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and onset, duration and severity of common side effects are recorded by nursing staff and/or physicians. Patients are discharged after a minimum of 30 minutes post administration, provided that the vital signs return to baseline and that the patient is calm, alert, and oriented.

Primary outcomes

Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks)

Eligibility information

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult outpatients (18-75 years old) with unipolar depression experiencing major depressive episodes as determined by the DSM5 and characterized as MDD-TRD (diagnosed with major depressive disorder as outlined by the DSM5) and experienced at least two previous failed antidepressant treatments of adequate dose and duration for the current episode Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with psychosis, main diagnosis of personality disorder, uncontrolled hypertension, substance abuse, currently pregnant or breastfeeding, or who had a previous negative reaction to ketamine or esketamine, were ineligible to receive IV ketamine or IN esketamine.

Study locations

Providence Care Hospital, Kingston, Ontario K7L4X3 Canada

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.