January 2021 PMID 33022440

Comparative efficacy of racemic ketamine and esketamine for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Anees Bahji, Gustavo H Vazquez, Carlos A Zarate

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Mentions

49
Peak: 3 in Aug 2021
across 6 sources since Sep 2020

Extended reach

58,362
potential audience

Total likes

157

Video views

12,563

Mentions per month

Sep 2020 – Jun 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News20 articles
  • X / Twitter19 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Facebook3 posts
  • Reddit2 posts
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The group collectively emphasizes the clinical superiority of racemic ketamine over esketamine, frequently quoting phrases like "intravenous ketamine is more effective" and discussing economic benefits of off-patent options, which reflects a deep engagement with both scientific evidence and practical implications.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions support the finding that racemic ketamine is more effective than esketamine, emphasizing the superiority of intravenous administration in the responses.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions demonstrate high interest, with multiple references to clinical trials, routes of administration, and economic implications, indicating a focus on the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants are actively engaging through quoting studies, debating the efficacy of different routes, and suggesting improvements, showing thoughtful involvement.

ImpactHigh impact

The discussions highlight potential shifts in treatment approaches and policy changes, reflecting significant implications for medical practice and drug repurposing.

Abstract in brief

  • This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the effectiveness of two forms of ketamine—racemic (which contains both left- and right-handed molecules) and esketamine (the active component of racemic ketamine)—for treating depression, including unipolar and bipolar types.
  • The study pooled data from 24 randomized controlled trials with 1,877 participants and found that racemic ketamine generally resulted in higher response and remission rates, and fewer dropouts, compared to esketamine.
  • Overall, intravenous racemic ketamine was found to be more effective than intranasal esketamine in managing depression symptoms, suggesting differences in how these formulations work.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Crowd Funded Cures
@CrowdFundedCure · X

The cost of one new drug exceeds the $3b MC of @BoredApeYC. $100m in Open Ketamine NFTs can retroactively fund successful clinical trials for off-patent ketamine, arguably treating depression better than patented sketamine https://t.co/rqLXmylTPe @psy_dao @Molecule_dao @lab_dao https://t.co/qedSYdFXMi

Jul 24, 2022 · 9 likes · 2 shares · 1,807 followers View post →
Global Med Education
@GlobalMedEd · X

Comparative efficacy of racemic #ketamine and #esketamine for #depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://t.co/lWSmMHSMrC #nursepractitioner #mentalhealth #psychiatry #mhchat #mh #medicine #primarycare #TRD https://t.co/p39dVsetKx

Aug 23, 2021 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 9,292 followers View post →
Crowd Funded Cures
@CrowdFundedCure · X

@martincodyre @singareddynm @newzealandlaw We can fix perverse incentives with contracts - we can recruit esketamine patients into interventional pharmacoeconomic RCTs that are paid out of cost savings by randomising 50% of patients to receive ketamine instead (which is arguably more effective https://t.co/rqLXmymrEM).

Mar 6, 2023 · 2 likes · 1,807 followers View post →
Dr Nuke ✴️
@TheNewImpostor · X

@MorganGodvin The meta-analysis study concludes "Intravenous ketamine appears to be more efficacious than intranasal esketamine for the treatment of depression" - but that's conflating different routes of use with different types of ketamine. https://t.co/DEfh0vGGKo

Jan 28, 2024 · 1 like · 7,189 followers View post →
Nicholas C. Fiorenza
@nfiorenza · X

(1/2) To date, there's limited clinical evidence proving that es-ketamine [the patented left-hand molecule of ketamine] is more helpful in treating major depression than racemic (generic) ketamine. Many clinical trials show the generic is more effective. https://t.co/O2FfwE1wic

Nov 7, 2022 · 1 like · 1,526 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @GlobalMedEd: Comparative efficacy of racemic #ketamine and #esketamine for #depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://t…

Aug 23, 2021 · 2 shares · 6,710 followers View post →

All mentions

Iroh
@IrohLotusBlanc · X

@MelissaBou12321 @VolodimirZelen1 9/10 : Suite des sources : Comparative efficacy of racemic ketamine and esketamine for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis : https://t.co/DotlHk3fVp

Jun 2, 2025 · 32 followers View post →
向精神薬の知識
@EvidenceFAB · X

@AllenFrancesMD What you refer to is the nasal administration of esketamine. However, intravenous ketamine is more effective. https://t.co/4YYulxUvHI

Feb 7, 2025 · 489 followers View post →
Vera Wilde
@vk_wilde · X

Some more references: https://t.co/CqAEQXFheP https://t.co/jSSnXpKBtn https://t.co/5lFpfI3IYS

Jun 2, 2024 · 886 followers View post →
Dr Nuke ✴️
@TheNewImpostor · X

@MorganGodvin The meta-analysis study concludes "Intravenous ketamine appears to be more efficacious than intranasal esketamine for the treatment of depression" - but that's conflating different routes of use with different types of ketamine. https://t.co/DEfh0vGGKo

Jan 28, 2024 · 1 like · 7,189 followers View post →
Aaron Bergman
@AaronBergman18 · X

@SpacedOutMatt @goth600 First review article I found: “Intravenous ketamine appears to be more efficacious than intranasal esketamine for the treatment of depression.” https://t.co/pAnyvxsJoq

Apr 5, 2023 · 4,178 followers View post →
Crowd Funded Cures
@CrowdFundedCure · X

@martincodyre @singareddynm @newzealandlaw We can fix perverse incentives with contracts - we can recruit esketamine patients into interventional pharmacoeconomic RCTs that are paid out of cost savings by randomising 50% of patients to receive ketamine instead (which is arguably more effective https://t.co/rqLXmymrEM).

Mar 6, 2023 · 2 likes · 1,807 followers View post →
Nicholas C. Fiorenza
@nfiorenza · X

(1/2) To date, there's limited clinical evidence proving that es-ketamine [the patented left-hand molecule of ketamine] is more helpful in treating major depression than racemic (generic) ketamine. Many clinical trials show the generic is more effective. https://t.co/O2FfwE1wic

Nov 7, 2022 · 1 like · 1,526 followers View post →
Niklas Limacher
@nik_limi · X

RT @CrowdFundedCure: The cost of one new drug exceeds the $3b MC of @BoredApeYC. $100m in Open Ketamine NFTs can retroactively fund succes…

Jul 25, 2022 · 2 shares · 662 followers View post →
Savva Kerdemelidis
@newzealandlaw · X

RT @CrowdFundedCure: The cost of one new drug exceeds the $3b MC of @BoredApeYC. $100m in Open Ketamine NFTs can retroactively fund succes…

Jul 24, 2022 · 2 shares · 771 followers View post →
Crowd Funded Cures
@CrowdFundedCure · X

The cost of one new drug exceeds the $3b MC of @BoredApeYC. $100m in Open Ketamine NFTs can retroactively fund successful clinical trials for off-patent ketamine, arguably treating depression better than patented sketamine https://t.co/rqLXmylTPe @psy_dao @Molecule_dao @lab_dao https://t.co/qedSYdFXMi

Jul 24, 2022 · 9 likes · 2 shares · 1,807 followers View post →
EphemeralGanglion
@MalysheD · X

@HamiltonMorris Although, Racemic Ketamine is superior to Esketamine in clinical response and remission rates in depression. https://t.co/MJ5mwFLCcA And https://t.co/uXqkFjbzsy

Dec 5, 2021 · 1 followers View post →
R. A Martin, Jr.
@DJROSTI · X

RT @GlobalMedEd: Comparative efficacy of racemic #ketamine and #esketamine for #depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://t…

Aug 24, 2021 · 2 shares · 5,842 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @GlobalMedEd: Comparative efficacy of racemic #ketamine and #esketamine for #depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://t…

Aug 23, 2021 · 2 shares · 6,710 followers View post →
Global Med Education
@GlobalMedEd · X

Comparative efficacy of racemic #ketamine and #esketamine for #depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://t.co/lWSmMHSMrC #nursepractitioner #mentalhealth #psychiatry #mhchat #mh #medicine #primarycare #TRD https://t.co/p39dVsetKx

Aug 23, 2021 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 9,292 followers View post →
Hieflo
@Hieflo23 · X

@juliaskripkaser @Aesculapius1898 ok, found the biology part on this! https://t.co/Hhk0qZwHrk

May 24, 2021 · 199 followers View post →
Blossom
@blossomact · X

Another meta-analysis last September compared both versions of ketamine more directly and favored racemix https://t.co/GSp2YRSCbN As did this review this March https://t.co/0UzEAapALd

May 5, 2021 · 3,359 followers View post →
PsychiatryAI.com
@PsychiatryAIcom · X

Letter to the editor – Comparative efficacy of racemic ketamine and esketamine for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis https://t.co/9rtNoXX0PN

Feb 10, 2021 · 436 followers View post →
Gustavo Vazquez, MD, PhD, FRCPC
@GustavoHVazquez · X

@PsychToday @DrRaymondLam @ArashEmamzadeh https://t.co/oYZZCz3Wfd

Dec 24, 2020 · 294 followers View post →
Gustavo Vazquez, MD, PhD, FRCPC
@GustavoHVazquez · X

Comparative efficacy of racemic ketamine and esketamine for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis - ScienceDirect https://t.co/6pWbS1pnRv

Sep 25, 2020 · 1 share · 294 followers View post →