Depression can be successfully treated with ketamine, particularly in cases of treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine acts by attaching to brain receptors that release the neurotransmitter glutamate, which has a quick antidepressant effect [2]. Contrary to other antidepressants, which may take weeks or longer to start working, this impact is immediate.
The use of esketamine, a nasal spray made from ketamine, for the treatment of severe depression was given FDA approval in March 2019 [1]. Ketamine, when administered intravenously, has been proven in studies to effectively treat depressed symptoms and suicidal thoughts in individuals younger than 65 [9].
In addition, a 16-year-old boy who had made three suicide attempts in a case study done by researchers at the Yale Child Study Center showed reduced depressed symptoms and no longer had suicidal thoughts after numerous ketamine infusions [8].
Additionally, ketamine has been shown to be successful in treating other mental health issues like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [4]. Although it is generally regarded as safe for use, it does have certain negative effects, including dissociation, drowsiness, elevated blood pressure, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting [5].
In conclusion, ketamine therapy has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in the treatment of depression, particularly in cases of treatment-resistant depression, and has the potential to be a successful first-line treatment option [7]. However, it is not a sure cure. However, before deciding whether ketamine treatment is appropriate for you, it is crucial to consider potential dangers and benefits with a medical practitioner, as with any medicine or treatment.
References-
[1] “Update: March 9, 2022] On March 5, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first new medication for major depression in decades. The drug is a nasal spray called esketamine, derived from ketamine—an anesthetic that has made waves for its surprising antidepressant effect. Because treatment with esketamine might be so helpful …”
URL: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/ketamine-depression
[2] “How it treats depression. Ketamine works by binding to receptors in the brain that produce a chemical called glutamate, explains Faisal Tai, a board certified psychiatrist and medical director of …”
URL: https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/ketamine-depression-treatment
[3] “Ketamine is a fast-acting antidepressant that relieves depressive symptoms in hours instead of the weeks or longer that previous drugs required. In addition to being a major advance in treatment, ketamine provides an opportunity for researchers to investigate the short- and long-term biological changes underlying its effects on depression.”
URL: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-ketamine-relieves-symptoms-depression
[4] “Ketamine has also been found effective in combating treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Ketamine is not 100 percent effective and is usually rather expensive (at least several …”
URL: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tripping-20/202108/should-you-try-ketamine-therapy
[5] “Ketamine is generally considered safe, including for those who are experiencing suicidal ideation (thoughts or plans for suicide). The main side effects are dissociation, intoxication, sedation, high blood pressure, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting. Ketamine is avoided or used with extreme caution in the …”
URL: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ketamine-for-treatment-resistant-depression-when-and-where-is-it-safe-202208092797
[6] “Two main types of ketamine are used to treat major depression that hasn’t responded to two or more medications (treatment-resistant depression). Racemic ketamine, which is most often given as an infusion into the bloodstream. This is sometimes called intravenous, or IV, ketamine. It is a mixture of two mirror-image molecules: “R” and “S …”
URL: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ketamine-for-major-depression-new-tool-new-questions-2019052216673
[7] “For instance, though ketamine has mostly been studied in drug-resistant patients, some believe it could prove to be an effective first-line treatment option for severe depression, said Dr. Berman …”
URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/well/ketamine-therapy-depression.html
[8] “In 2017, researchers at the Yale Child Study Center published one of the first case studies on the effects of ketamine for depression in adolescents. The study followed a 16-year-old boy who had attempted suicide three times. After repeated ketamine infusions, his depressive symptoms reduced and he no longer had suicidal thoughts.”
URL: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/ketamine-the-new-miracle-drug
[9] “Intravenously administered ketamine can quickly resolve “depressive symptoms and suicidal ideations” in patients under 65 years old, she says. “However, the need for IV access and physician …”
URL: https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/is-ketamine-effective-in-treating-depression
[10] “In a small-scale experiment, 12 volunteers who had previously struggled to find effective treatments for their depression were twice given a dose of ketamine, with a two-week gap – once after being given the either the opioid blocker naltrexone, and once after being given a placebo.. Results showed the symptoms of depression vastly improved in the placebo test, but not the naltrexone test.”
URL: https://www.sciencealert.com/doctors-find-opioid-problem-with-using-ketamine-for-depression
