Long term adverse effects of oral esketamine in patients with major depressive disorder

Boer, Wieke (2025) Long term adverse effects of oral esketamine in patients with major depressive disorder. Master's Research Project 1, Biomedical Sciences.

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Abstract

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a major clinical challenge due to the limited efficacy and side effect burden of traditional antidepressants. Esketamine, a fast-acting NMDA receptor antagonist, has emerged as a promising alternative; however, its long-term side effects, particularly in oral form, are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and severity of adverse effects associated with oral esketamine over an eleven-week period in patients with TRD. In study, 75 participants received oral esketamine twice weekly, with doses titrated between 0.5 and 3.0 mg/kg. Adverse effects were systematically assessed before each treatment session using the Ketamine Side Effect Tool (KSET). Results showed that the overall burden of side effects remained stable over time. No significant changes were observed in the severity or frequency of individual side effects, including dissociation, drowsiness, and memory or concentration difficulties. These findings suggest that oral esketamine is well tolerated over the short term, even at higher doses, without evidence of cumulative toxicity. Further research with larger samples and extended follow-up periods is necessary to fully assess the long-term safety and therapeutic potential of oral esketamine for TRD.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master's Research Project 1)
Supervisor name:	Sommer, I.E.C.
Degree programme:	Biomedical Sciences
Thesis type:	Master's Research Project 1
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	10 Jun 2025 06:54
Last Modified:	10 Jun 2025 06:54
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/35325

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