4 ms·
The most effective immediate suicide prevention available is a surprising one. It's Ketamine. It takes effect very rapidly and the anti-depressant effects persi
by jrogers65 14y ago
The most effective immediate suicide prevention available is a surprising one. It's Ketamine. It takes effect very rapidly and the anti-depressant effects persist for months from a single dose. It's a wonder how SSRI's are in wide use when there are far more effective treatments which have been around since the 60's. Marketing and business are to blame for that, I suppose.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251220.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251220.php
There are also some novel NMDA antagonists (same mechanism as Ketamine) in the works, which come with less perception alterations, the names of which escape me, which will change things for the better for a lot of people.
- objclxt 14y agoKetamine may be effective, but is it useful for 'immediate' prevention? I suppose this depends on what you mean by 'immediate'. Someone already posted a link here suggesting a significant number of suicides are impulsive, and many people have planned suicides without their friends or family having any idea. I can't see how in many of these situations a controlled drug is going to help. We could only administer ketamine to those who exhibit depression or suicidal tendencies, but sadly these signs are not always visible or picked up.
- jrogers65 14y agoI meant in the context of someone about to commit suicide and calling a helpline. Send someone over, give them an injection and you've bought a few months of time during which they can recieve therapy. A lot of failed suicide attempts tend to get repeated. It would solve that issue very well.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]