# a friends suicide **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friends-suicide/762507 "2016-08-11T23:48:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flygirl2172](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@flygirl2172](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flygirl2172)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friends-suicide/762507/1 "2016-08-11T23:48:36Z")
Is a ketamine infusion effective in treating depression? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friends-suicide/762507/2 "2016-08-12T00:25:54Z")
reported ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friends-suicide/762507/3 "2016-08-12T01:00:24Z")
Moved from General Questions to IMHO. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friends-suicide/762507/4 "2016-08-12T01:12:35Z")
What I found: > [@](#): > > Ballard, a researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, published a study in August that shows ketamine reduces suicidal thoughts independent of its effect on depression or anxiety. > > That’s an important discovery, Ballard says, because not all suicides can be traced back to depression. Post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and alcohol or other substance dependence, for examples, also account for some suicides. **Further research is needed to explore the study’s findings**. (bolding added) From WebMD (which I use frequently): > **[Understanding the Basics of Depression](https://www.webmd.com/depression/understanding-depression-basics?page=1)** > > WebMD's guide to the types and prevalence of depression. It started its life as an anesthetic. It is now going off label for both (nerve-based) pain and depression. The linked article suggests it as a “rescue drug” for ER-type interventions for suicidal patients. Hard to think of offing yourself while tripping\*. - - it also, in massive doses (so they say) produces a hallucinogenic state. A new acid for the new generation! ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friends-suicide/762507/5 "2016-08-12T01:17:22Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > it also, in massive doses (so they say) produces a hallucinogenic state. A new acid for the new generation! There’s nothing new about “Special K”. Its been around for decades as a recreational drug. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friends-suicide/762507/6 "2016-08-12T01:18:31Z")
Are you ok, **flygirl**? If a friend has committed suicide and you’re having a lot of trouble with it, please contact your doctor. He or she can guide you in how to manage your depression through drug therapy and/or counseling. I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friends-suicide/762507/7 "2016-08-12T01:58:35Z")
NMDA antagonists have been looked into for depression, ketamine is one. > **[Ketamine and other N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists in the treatment...](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4416968/)** > > Current pharmacotherapies for major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression (BDep) have a distinct lag of onset that can generate great distress and impairment in patients. Furthermore, as demonstrated by several real-world effectiveness... During a hard period of my life, I noticed meaningful improvements in my depression by taking magnesium citrate.