Ketamine and depression
Depression is an intense mental illness that can have a profound negative impact on a person’s life. It can provoke a person to feel hopeless, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, and have difficulty functioning daily.
While many different treatments are available for depression, some people do not respond well to traditional therapies. For these people, ketamine may be an effective treatment option.
This blog will discuss ketamine and how it can help with severe depression.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a treatment initially used as an anesthetic for humans and animals. It is also sometimes used as a party drug due to its psychedelic effects.
Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States, which means by the scheduling criteria means it can have potential for abuse and dependence. However, ketamine is considered safe and effective when used in controlled doses for medical purposes.
How Does Ketamine Work?
Ketamine functions by blocking the NMDA receptor, which is a different receptor that most antidepressants work on. This is important because it allows people to stay on their antidepressants while undergoing ketamine therapy without the risk of serotonin syndrome. The actions of ketamine in the brain are fully understood, but research has shown it to be involved in repair certain neurons and in building new connections between cells in the brain. This action helps to improve communication between brain cells and can lead to an increase in neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. This neuroplasticity is thought to be responsible for the antidepressant effects of ketamine.
What is Ketamine Therapy?
Ketamine therapy can be administered a number of different ways. The most common include: intravenous, intramuscular, intranasally, and orally. Depending on the route of administration, the bioavailability of the drug (the amount of the drug that can be used by the brain) varies. There are different reasons one may decide to get treated with a certain route of administration.
A common treatment plan can include one or multiple treatment sessions a week for a few weeks, depending on the way it is administered, the dose used, and if integration/therapy is combined with the ketamine.
Maintenance sessions are often needed at variable intervals to support people as they are learning to do things differently in life.
What Are the Benefits of Ketamine Therapy?
Ketamine therapy is an adequate treatment for severe depression that has not responded to other treatments. In some cases, ketamine therapy can relieve depression symptoms within hours or days.
Ketamine therapy is also a safe and well-tolerated treatment option. The most common side effects of ketamine therapy are dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms are mostly mild and go away quickly without needing major medical intervention.
Ketamine therapy is also a promising treatment option for other mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and chronic pain.
How Does Ketamine Work for Depression?
Ketamine therapy is a medication that has been used for decades as an anesthetic. In recent years, however, ketamine has also been an effective treatment, particularly, for depression.
Depression is a serious mental illness that can cause a person to feel hopeless, lose enthusiasm in activities they once enjoyed, and have difficulty functioning in everyday life. While many different medications and therapies are available to treat depression, ketamine has emerged as a promising option, particularly for people who have not responded well to other treatments.
Ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain. These receptors are involved in the formation of memories and learning and are also thought to play a role in depression. In addition, ketamine is thought to increase glutamate levels, a neurotransmitter involved in the brain’s stress response. This increase in glutamate may help break the cycle of negative thinking often seen in people with depression.
The effects of ketamine treatment can be quick rapid for some people with improvement in symptoms within hours. For some people, ketamine may provide relief from long-lasting depression, while others may need to receive periodic infusions to maintain the benefits.
Conclusion
Ketamine appears to be a very promising treatment option for severe depression, with a rapid onset of action, and lower side effects than traditional antidepressant medications. Continued research is being done around long term effects and its efficacy with other disorders besides depression and treatment resistent depression.
If you are considering ketamine treatment for depression, it is vital to work with a mental health professional who is experienced in administering the medication. Ketamine is a powerful medication, and it is important o make sure that it is used safely and appropriately. You should feel comfortable and safe with the team that you are working with for your treatment.
Finding the right solution for you is a great way to manage your mental health problems. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, contact us today to learn more about this treatment option. Let us help you with ketamine therapy in Utah.