The Glutamatergic System in Depression: A Review of the Clinical Evidence of Medications and Supplements Affecting Through It

Abstract

Current therapies for depression are moderately effective, as response and remission rates were reported at 50% and 15-40%, following the first trial with current medications, respectively, and electroconvulsive therapy is not beneficial for more than half of the resistant patients. Recent research suggests that medication with glutamatergic modulatory properties may have antidepressant effects and would be of benefit to refractory patients. This study aims to review the efficacy of these medications in the treatment of unipolar depression. Ketamine, as the leading drug acting through the glutamatergic system, appears to be effective in treating depression IV and orally and in combination with electroconvulsive therapy. There is also clinical evidence of the promising effects of amantadine and lanicemine. Supplements and herbs such as L-carnosine, Crocus sativus (saffron), and Cinnamomum tamala, which were reported to be effective in randomized controlled trials on patients with depression, may act through this system as an antidepressant. Taken together, glutamate receptor modulators are alternative drugs for patients with resistant depression. Further high-quality clinical studies are recommended.