Scientists have discovered a new class of antidepressants that work in two hours

Chinese scientists have tested an entirely new class of antidepressants based on a compound that starts working much faster than its current counterparts. Drug Testing Study published in the journal Science.

The new fast-acting compound is effective in as little as two hours, with fewer side effects than other common antidepressants currently available.

The compound has only been tested in mice so far. The active substance was injected directly into dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and allowed to control the production of serotonin, which stopped the excitation of neurons, providing an antidepressant effect.

The only problem with the new substance is that it has to be injected directly into the brain. In this form, the drug cannot be used by people under normal conditions. However, if scientists find a way to get an identical effect using a pill or, for example, a nasal spray, then the world may soon have a revolutionary fast-acting drug.

Depression is now one of the most common types of mental disorders in many parts of the world. In Russia, the number of requests to psychotherapists about depression

increased by 50%. However, patients with this diagnosis usually appoint drugs that begin to act only after two weeks or even a month. A new drug could greatly change the rules of the game.