Report: Nitrous oxide found effective as major depression treatment
Researchers at the University of Birmingham in England reported Sunday that nitrous oxide may prove an effective treatment for people with major depressive disorder, and for whom other treatment options have failed. Photo by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke/Pixabay
Results of a new study show that patients with major depressive order who have not been helped by antidepressants could benefit from short-term use of nitrous oxide, researchers announced Sunday.
The study, conducted by the University of Birmingham and published in the the journal eBioMedicine “has assessed the best available clinical information to show how clinically administered nitrous oxide can offer fast-acting depressive symptom relief for adults with major depressive and treatment-resistant depression,” a press release said.
Researchers found in three trials that a single treatment of inhaled clinical nitrous oxide with a 50% concentration rate produced a rapid and significant drop in depressive symptoms within 24 hours, though the results did not sustain for a week, the press release said.
However, repeated treatments over several weeks showed longer lasting effectiveness, which suggested that multiple, ongoing treatments may be required to achieve clinical effectiveness and long-term relief from depressive symptoms, researchers said.
Nitrous oxide is thought to target the brain’s glutamate receptors in the same way that the fast-acting drug ketamine does. Ketamine, which is administered clinically, is also used to treat depression by temporarily altering brain chemistry.
A limited number of existing trials in the study caused variability in how depressive symptoms were measured and reported, doctors acknowledged. They stressed the need for more research and additional clinical trials.
Researchers are preparing the first trial in England’s National Health Service to determine whether the treatment will be a viable, long-term option for people with major depressive disorder.
“The findings will help determine how nitrous oxide could be integrated into NHS care and may expand the range of innovative options available for patients who have not benefitted from standard approaches,” the release said.
The team also studied the potential side effects of nitrous oxide treatment, and found their likelihood increased at concentrations above 50%.