Reports linking ketamine and esketamine to suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Esketamine is associated with a higher risk of suicidal thoughts.

• Esketamine shows a higher reporting odds ratio (ROR) for suicidal ideation (ROR 7.58, 95% CI 6.34-9.07).
• There is a very high ROR for depression-related suicidality with esketamine (ROR 14.19, 95% CI 1.80-112.07).
• Both ketamine and esketamine have significantly lower RORs for suicide attempts (ketamine ROR 0.15, esketamine ROR 0.57).
• Causal effects of new onset suicidality related to either agent cannot be determined due to limitations in the FAERS database.
• The lower RORs for suicide attempts may indicate a protective effect, but this should not be interpreted as a direct therapeutic benefit.

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