Ketamine during or after C-sections may ease early postpartum depression symptoms, new study suggests
Ketamine, a medication used in operating rooms for anesthesia and pain control, may offer another benefit for some new mothers: easing early symptoms of postpartum depression after cesarean delivery (C-section), according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting.
A new meta-analysis presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting suggests that ketamine, a medication commonly used in operating rooms for anesthesia and pain control, may help ease early symptoms of postpartum depression after cesarean delivery (C-section). The study found that administering ketamine or esketamine, a ketamine derivative, during or immediately after a C-section was associated with a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms within the first two weeks after birth.
While the findings are promising, researchers emphasize that it is too early to conclude that ketamine prevents clinically diagnosed postpartum depression or should be used routinely. The study authors plan to conduct further prospective, randomized studies to evaluate the potential role of ketamine administered during cesarean delivery in reducing the incidence and severity of postpartum depression.
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