Ketamine: How a Single Drug Can Cure Your Depression in Hours
Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can cause persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, guilt, and worthlessness. It can also interfere with your daily functioning, relationships, and quality of life.
Many people with depression try different treatments, such as antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, or alternative therapies. However, some people do not respond well to these treatments, or they experience only partial or temporary relief. This is called treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
If you have TRD, you may feel like there is no hope for your recovery. You may even have thoughts of suicide or self-harm. But there is a new option that could change your life: ketamine.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a drug that was originally developed as an anesthetic for surgical and medical procedures. It has a powerful effect on the brain, causing a state of dissociation, where you feel detached from your body and surroundings. It can also produce hallucinations, euphoria, and altered perception of time and space.
Ketamine has been used recreationally for its psychedelic effects, but it can also have serious side effects, such as confusion, memory loss, addiction, and bladder damage. Therefore, it is illegal to use ketamine without a prescription.
However, in recent years, ketamine has been discovered to have a remarkable antidepressant effect. When given in low doses, under the supervision of a doctor, ketamine can rapidly reduce the symptoms of depression, sometimes within hours of the first dose. It can also relieve suicidal thoughts and anxiety.
How does ketamine treat depression?
Ketamine works differently from standard antidepressants, which usually increase the levels of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain that regulates mood. Ketamine, on the other hand, affects another chemical messenger called glutamate, which is involved in learning, memory, and neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to new experiences. People with depression often have impaired neuroplasticity, which means they have difficulty forming new positive connections and breaking old negative patterns in the brain.
Ketamine helps to restore neuroplasticity by stimulating the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF promotes the growth and survival of new brain cells and synapses, which are the connections between brain cells. By enhancing neuroplasticity, ketamine may help people with depression to overcome their negative thoughts and emotions, and to develop new coping skills and resilience.
What are the types of ketamine therapy?
Ketamine can be administered in different ways, depending on the dose, frequency, and duration of treatment. The most common types of ketamine therapy are:
- Nasal spray: This is the only FDA-approved form of ketamine for TRD. It is a more potent version of ketamine, called esketamine, that is delivered as a spray in each nostril. You will need to use it in a doctor’s office or a clinic, where you will be monitored for two hours after each dose. You will also need to take another antidepressant medication along with the nasal spray. The usual dosing schedule is twice a week for four weeks, then once a week for another four weeks, then tapering off over time.
- Intravenous (IV) therapy: This is the most widely used form of ketamine for TRD, although it is not FDA-approved. It involves receiving a slow and continuous infusion of ketamine into your vein, usually over 40 minutes. You will also need to be in a doctor’s office or a clinic, where you will be monitored during and after the infusion. You may need to receive several infusions, typically two times a week for two to three weeks, then once a week, then once a month, and then hopefully stopping. The dose and frequency of the infusions will depend on your response and tolerance to the treatment.
- Intramuscular (IM) injection: This is another form of ketamine that is not FDA-approved, but it is sometimes used for TRD. It involves receiving a single injection of ketamine into your muscle, usually in your arm or thigh. You will also need to be in a doctor’s office or a clinic, where you will be monitored for an hour after the injection. You may need to receive several injections, usually once a week for four to six weeks, then tapering off over time.
What are the benefits and risks of ketamine therapy?
Ketamine therapy has several advantages over standard antidepressants, such as:
- Faster onset of action: Ketamine can provide relief from depression within hours or days, compared to weeks or months for standard antidepressants.
- Higher response rate: Ketamine can improve the symptoms of depression in up to 70% of people with TRD, compared to 30% or less for standard antidepressants.
- Reduced suicidality: Ketamine can quickly reduce the risk of suicide or self-harm in people with severe depression, which is a life-saving benefit.
However, ketamine therapy also has some drawbacks and risks, such as:
- Short duration of effect: Ketamine’s antidepressant effect usually wears off within days or weeks, which means you may need to receive repeated doses to maintain the benefit.
- Side effects: Ketamine can cause various side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, fatigue, blurred vision, increased blood pressure, and dissociation. These side effects are usually mild and transient, but they can be unpleasant and distressing for some people. You may also experience a worsening of depression or anxiety after the treatment, which is called a rebound effect.
- Abuse potential: Ketamine can be addictive, especially if used recreationally or without medical supervision. You may develop a tolerance to the drug, which means you need higher doses to achieve the same effect. You may also experience withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings, irritability, insomnia, and depression, if you stop using the drug abruptly.
- Cost and availability: Ketamine therapy is not covered by most insurance plans, which means you may have to pay out of pocket for the treatment. The cost of ketamine therapy can vary depending on the type, dose, frequency, and duration of the treatment, but it can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per session. Ketamine therapy is also not widely available, as it requires specialized training and equipment. You may have to travel to a distant location or wait for a long time to receive the treatment.
How can you try ketamine therapy?
If you are interested in trying ketamine therapy for your depression, you should first consult with your primary care provider or your mental health provider. They can help you determine if you are a good candidate for the treatment, and if you have any medical or psychiatric conditions that may interfere with the treatment.
You should also do your own research and educate yourself about the benefits and risks of ketamine therapy. You can find reliable information from reputable sources, such as the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Psychiatric Association, or the Mayo Clinic12345.
You should also look for a qualified and experienced ketamine provider, who can offer you safe and effective treatment. You can ask your primary care provider or your mental health provider for a referral, or you can search online for a ketamine clinic near you. You should check the credentials and reputation of the ketamine provider, and ask them about their treatment protocol, fees, and outcomes.
Ketamine therapy is not a miracle cure for depression, but it can be a valuable tool for people who have not found relief from other treatments. It can offer you a chance to break free from the grip of depression, and to regain your hope and happiness. If you are suffering from TRD, you may want to consider ketamine therapy as an option. It could change your life for the better.
References
1. American Psychiatric Association. (2020). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder (3rd ed.). https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.books.9780890426760
2. Mayo Clinic. (2020). Ketamine therapy for depression. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ketamine-therapy/about/pac-20453307
3. National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Ketamine for depression: The highs and lows. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2019/ketamine-for-depression-the-highs-and-lows.shtml
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019). FDA approves new nasal spray medication for treatment-resistant depression; available only at a certified doctor’s office or clinic. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-nasal-spray-medication-treatment-resistant-depression-available-only-certified
5. Zarate, C. A., & Mathews, D. C. (2019). Ketamine and esketamine for treatment-resistant depression: A clinical practice guideline. The BMJ, 367, l6880. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l6880
