![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by poser938 on December 17, 2011, at 16:49:02
so, apparently ketamine is has been shown to be a great treatment for depression. they even say it is like a reset button for the brain. someone on another forum told me they tried it before and that it really did feel like it reset their brain. now im just wondering what the difference between dextromethorphan (DXM) and Ketamine, since they are both NMDA antagonists. DXM is used in cough syrup and ketamine is an anesthetic. but why does ketamine have such a profound effect on brain activity and DXM doesnt?
Posted by Phillipa on December 17, 2011, at 18:56:34
In reply to whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine?, posted by poser938 on December 17, 2011, at 16:49:02
Your thread says can't be found. Thought you would like to know. Phillipa
Posted by poser938 on December 17, 2011, at 20:01:40
In reply to Re: whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine? » poser938, posted by Phillipa on December 17, 2011, at 18:56:34
well thats weird, its still showing up on my browser. here i'll post it again.
so, apparently ketamine is has been shown to be a great treatment for depression. they even say it is like a reset button for the brain. someone on another forum told me they tried it before and that it really did feel like it reset their brain. now im just wondering what the difference between dextromethorphan (DXM) and Ketamine, since they are both NMDA antagonists. DXM is used in cough syrup and ketamine is an anesthetic. but why does ketamine have such a profound effect on brain activity and DXM doesnt?
Posted by linkadge on December 17, 2011, at 20:03:16
In reply to whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine?, posted by poser938 on December 17, 2011, at 16:49:02
I think that DXM has not really been studied in this application. It could well help depression.
I know that ketamine has some additional effects (like MAO and reuptake inhibiting properties).
Linkadge
Posted by poser938 on December 17, 2011, at 23:23:26
In reply to Re: whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine?, posted by linkadge on December 17, 2011, at 20:03:16
oh okay, ive just been trying to figure out why there is so much info about ketamine being great for depression and rebooting the brain, and no real info about DXM.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 18, 2011, at 7:11:26
In reply to whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine?, posted by poser938 on December 17, 2011, at 16:49:02
>but why does ketamine have such a profound effect on brain activity and DXM doesnt?
Because the doses of dextromethorphan used in cough medicines are very small. High doses of dextromethorphan can cause severe dissociation and hallucinations.
Posted by linkadge on December 18, 2011, at 17:57:13
In reply to Re: whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine?, posted by ed_uk2010 on December 18, 2011, at 7:11:26
>High doses of dextromethorphan can cause severe >dissociation and hallucinations.
The same is true for ketamine, PCP and other NMDA antagonists.
Many NMDA antagonists have antidepressant effects. I think that ketamine is just in the spotlight for now.
Linkadge
Posted by Phidippus on December 18, 2011, at 18:35:07
In reply to whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine?, posted by poser938 on December 17, 2011, at 16:49:02
DXM is a very weak NMDA antaginist. Its the active ingredient in some cough syrups. You can get high off it, but it provides very little therapeutic benefit.
PCP is another NMDA antagonist, more potent than DXM and Ketamine combined.
All of these drugs cause a dissociative state to one degree or another.
Eric
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 19, 2011, at 0:21:57
In reply to whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine?, posted by poser938 on December 17, 2011, at 16:49:02
They are totaly different drugs, they just happen to have that one property in common
Posted by linkadge on December 19, 2011, at 18:56:30
In reply to Re: whats the difference between DXM and Ketamine?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 19, 2011, at 0:21:57
>They are totaly different drugs, they just >happen to have that one property in common
Yes, but that property is postulated to be a theraputic one. Many NMDA antagonists (within a certain dose range) appear to rapidly induce BDNF through a mTOR dependant pathway.
I wouldn't be suprised if DXM does infact have antidepressant effects within a certain dose range. Like other NMDA antagonists, DXM can be used to modify tollerance to other substances.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.