Scott Alexander provides a comprehensive guide on ketamine as a depression treatment, covering administration methods, effectiveness, safety, dosage, and potential side effects. Longer summary

This post is a comprehensive guide on ketamine as a treatment for depression, covering various aspects such as methods of administration, effectiveness, safety, dosage, and potential side effects. Scott Alexander explains the differences between IV ketamine, esketamine (Spravato), and oral/intranasal ketamine, discussing their relative costs and accessibility. He also delves into ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, the duration of ketamine's effects, and current theories on how it works. The post is written in a FAQ format, aiming to provide thorough and evidence-based information while acknowledging areas of uncertainty in the research. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents results from an SSC Survey on SSRI usage, covering effectiveness, side effects, and discontinuation experiences among 2,090 users. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents the results of an SSC Survey on SSRI usage, covering their effectiveness, side effects, and discontinuation experiences. The survey included 2,090 SSRI users and explored various aspects of SSRI use. Key findings include: most users found SSRIs helpful, with Lexapro rated highest and Paxil lowest; SSRIs seemed more effective for anxiety than depression; 70% of users experienced side effects, with sexual difficulties being most common; 15% reported persistent side effects after discontinuation; and discontinuation difficulty varied among different SSRIs, with Prozac being easiest to discontinue. The survey largely confirmed existing psychiatric consensus, with the high rate of persistent side effects being the main surprise. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents results from a survey of 850 people rating various nootropics, showing a range of perceived effectiveness and exploring addiction potential for some substances. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents the results of a survey on nootropics, substances that claim to improve mental function. The survey gathered ratings from 850 participants on various nootropics. The results show a range of effectiveness, with prescription drugs like Adderall and Modafinil scoring highly, along with LSD microdosing and Phenibut. Some less well-known substances like tianeptine, Semax, and ashwagandha also performed well. The survey also explored addiction potential for certain substances. Scott notes that while the survey lacks placebo control, the large sample size and consistency with previous results lend some credibility to the findings. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critiques the medical system's preference for expensive prescription sleep aids like Ramelteon over cheaper alternatives like melatonin, while sharing interesting facts about melatonin's uses. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses Ramelteon, a prescription sleep medication that mimics melatonin. He compares it to over-the-counter melatonin, highlighting the absurdity of the medical system that creates expensive prescription drugs when cheaper, effective alternatives exist. The post criticizes the pharmaceutical industry and medical practice for overlooking simple solutions like melatonin. Scott also shares interesting facts about melatonin, including its potential uses beyond sleep aid. Shorter summary