More recently, some doctors have given ketamine to people with depression without formal FDA approval. Up to 7.4 million American adults suffer from so-called treatment-resistant depression, which heightens the risk of suicide, hospitalization and other serious harm, according to the FDA. BURDEN OF DEPRESSION Depression is among the leading causes of disability in the U.S. and is being closely monitored by health authorities amid rising suicides nationwide. A decades-old drug, ketamine is already used off-label to treat depression by some doctors. Such therapies are generally not covered by insurance because they haven’t been approved as safe and effective by FDA regulators.

Source: thestar March 06, 2019 01:18 UTC