Trial of the Rapid Antisuicidal Effects of Intranasal Ketamine in Comorbid Depression and Alcohol Abuse

Intranasal ketamine will be prepared as 100mg/ml ketamine in 0.9% saline. An mucosal atomization device will be used to provide 5 intranasal applications of solution (volume 100 μl), separated by 3 minutes, over a total of 15 minutes. Each of five ketamine applications will provide 10 mg of study drug, for a total of 50mg. The dose to be used (0.5-1mg/Kg) is 6 to 18 times lower than the sedation dose (6-9mg/Kg).

Saline alone. An mucosal atomization device will be used to provide 5 intranasal applications of saline (volume 100 μl), separated by 3 minutes, over a total of 15 minutes.