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Ketamine has been touted as a potential treatment for depression for a while but Australians are finally being given the opportunity to try it out, as a result of a $2 million Federal Government grant, announced today. As previously reported, the drug, which is traditionally used as a painkiller (and sometimes illicitly, so we hear) has already been trialled in the UK and US, garnering dramaticaly positive results in 70 per cent of cases. According to the University of NSW, these studies have shown a single dose of ketamine can reduce depression symptoms within hours.

Because of this, and Australia’s slow uptake on clinical trials, there have been some clinics already distributing the drug to depression-sufferers. Professor Colleen Loo told the ABC this trial is critical to ensuring it is being administered in the safest way possible. “What no study has shown is how can you use it as a clinically useful treatment to get a lasting response.”

The Australian trial is slated to commence in April 2016 and will involve 200 treatment-resistant patients.

[Via.]

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