Drugs

Study Backs Ketamine as Antidepressant

A large-scale population analysis by Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of California San Diego has supported anecdotal reports of the effectiveness of ketamine as an antidepressant. The study was published in Scientific Reports.

By analyzing the FDA Adverse Effect Reporting System database for depression symptoms in patients taking ketamine as an anesthetic, the researchers found that depression was reported half as often among the more than 41,000 patients who took the drug, compared to patients who took any other drug or drug combination for pain.

The researchers also found antidepressant effects for three other drugs typically used for other purposes—Botox, diclofenac, and minocycline. “Current FDA-approved treatments for depression fail for millions of people because they don’t work or don’t work fast enough,” says study senior author and professor of pharmacy Ruben Abagyan. “This study extends small-scale clinical evidence that ketamine can be used to alleviate depression, and provides needed solid statistical support for wider clinical applications and possible larger scale clinical trials.”

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

Read more

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome