London’s Daily Telegraph reported that a drug known for its recreational use in clubs may have more immediate and long-lasting results for the treatment of depression as compared to most commonly prescribed antidepressants.

Researchers at Yale discovered that ketamine, a traditionally used drug for animals as anesthetic, has a ‘magic’ effect on people suffering from depression which is very commonly found these days. This is also used on humans in some cases.

Dr Ronald Duman, professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at Yale University, who led the study, said, “It's like a magic drug — one dose can work rapidly and last for seven to 10 days.” He says that its like a magic drug and one dose can work rapidly and last for seven to ten days.

The researchers found that ketamine, in rats, restored connections between the brain cells damaged by chronic stress and quickly improved depression-like behaviour.

George Aghajanian, who is a professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine said, “The pathway is the story. Understanding the mechanism underlying the antidepressant effect of ketamine will allow us to attack the problem at a variety of possible sites within that pathway.”