Ketamine Therapy to Treat a Common Mental Health Disorder

Depression is a common mental health disorder, and millions of people have it. It can range from mild to severe, and a psychiatrist may recommend ketamine therapy as part of treatment. Antidepressants are often prescribed along with therapy, but not all treatment is effective. Ketamine has been shown to quickly reduce depression symptoms, especially in those with major depression.

Information about ketamine

Ketamine is a drug that has been used as an anesthetic and painkiller for decades. However, doctors have discovered that it is also effective for depression symptoms, and more medical professionals are recommending it for their patients.

Benefits

According to Psychology Today, one in three people with depression do not see a reduction in symptoms after taking traditional antidepressants. These individuals are referred to as having treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine therapy has shown promising results at symptom reduction in those with TRD. That is why a psychiatrist may prescribe ketamine for patients who are not getting good results from other methods.

Another benefit is that ketamine is fast-acting. Other antidepressants can take weeks, or even months, for patients to begin to see results, if they notice any at all. Ketamine, in contrast, acts quickly, which is especially important in those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Many people with depression also have anxiety. For some, this means taking two different medications to treat the symptoms. Fortunately, ketamine has been shown to reduce not only depression symptoms but anxiety symptoms as well.

How it works

Ketamine works differently than other antidepressants, which is possibly why it is more effective. The details of how ketamine works are not completely known. However, it seems that it targets certain receptors in the brain to increase the number of glutamate neurotransmitters. This then activates additional brain receptors, which builds more neural pathways, allowing for better communication among neurons. It is thought that these actions improve thought patterns, cognition, and mood.

Another thing that is being studied is if ketamine reduces inflammation in the brain. Inflammation is a common denominator among mood disorders, so this may be one reason why it helps with depression.

Types of ketamine therapy

A psychiatrist may recommend one of two ketamine types. Esketamine is given as a nasal spray. This type was approved by the Food and Drug Association a few years ago for use as a remedy for treatment-resistant depression.

The other main type is racemic ketamine. This is often referred to as intravenous ketamine, as it is delivered as an infusion. This type was approved by the FDA decades ago as an anesthetic, but it is used off-label for depression.