A specialist clinic at Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool is treating children as young as 13 for severe bladder conditions caused by sustained ketamine use. Patients describe devastating symptoms including loss of bladder control, with doctors warning about the serious health consequences of the drug's misuse among young people.
Compass Pathways executives revealed plans to model their upcoming psychedelic treatment launch after Johnson & Johnson's strategy for Spravato, the ketamine nasal spray, as the FDA considers approval. The move comes as psychedelic therapeutics face a critical juncture following Lykos' failed MDMA therapy approval in 2024.
A recent clinical trial found that a single dose of ketamine increases morning cortisol levels in suicidal patients for up to 24 hours, potentially explaining the drug's rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects. The finding adds to understanding of ketamine's therapeutic mechanisms beyond its original use as an anesthetic.
Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered common neuroimmune signatures that may explain how rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine and psychedelics work to reduce symptoms in treatment-resistant depression.
