Why Ketamine?
Current research recommends ketamine therapy as a safe and effective treatment for people suffering from mental disorders, such as severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well other debilitating conditions, like chronic pain. Clients who undergo ketamine treatments together with psychotherapy achieve results faster than with traditional therapy alone.
Ketamine allows a person to enter an altered state of consciousness wherein the brain is able to experience neurogensis, the process of reorganizing synapses to form healthier thinking patterns while replacing older, harmful, patterns. Psychotherapy then helps the client integrate these new patterns into everyday life so the changes become permanent.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is an anesthetic used in operating rooms and clinical settings because of its safety profile. First approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 1970, Ketamine was originally introduced as a safer alternative to anesthetics at the time. The FDA broadened the scope of Ketamine in 2019 and allowed it to be used to treat medication-resistant depression. Research continues to study its ability to treat other mental disorders as well.
How does ketamine work?
Ketamine allows synapses in the brain which have decreased as a result of stress, trauma, depression, and anxiety to reactivate. Connections are reformed and new pathways are created in a process known as neuroplasticity. Anxious thought-patterns are replaced with new and more productive ways of thinking.
Default Mode Network (DMN)
The DMN is an interconnected group of brain regions that reacts to our environment and gives us a sense of our place in the world. It is thought that the DMN is overactive following trauma, keeping the healing part of our brain from accessing the information it needs to heal. On ketamine, the DMN is temporarily shut down and the rest of the brain is able to function as intended.
Ketamine is:
- SAFE: Ketamine has been studied and used for over 50 years.
- EFFECTIVE: Ketamine has been shown to provide rapid and sustained relief.
- LEGAL: Ketamine is approved for therapeutic use in the US and Canada.
- QUICK: Ketamine takes effect in minutes and lasts for about 45-90 minutes.
- FLEXIBLE: Dosage is personalized throughout treatment, customized to fit your needs.
Ketamine is a drug used as an anesthetic. It has been studied as a potential treatment for depression, especially when other treatments haven’t worked. Here are some reasons why people with depression might consider trying ketamine:
- Rapid Onset of Action: One of the most significant advantages of ketamine is its rapid onset of action. Many traditional antidepressant medications can take weeks or even months to have an effect. In contrast, ketamine often provides relief within hours to days after administration, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals in crisis or experiencing severe depressive symptoms.
- Effectiveness in Treatment-Resistant Depression: Ketamine has shown promise in treating individuals with treatment-resistant depression, which is a form of depression that does not respond well to conventional antidepressant treatments. For some people, ketamine can be an effective option when other treatments have failed.
- Potential to Reduce Suicidal Thoughts: Research suggests that ketamine may have a rapid and significant effect in reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in people with severe depression. This can be a critical factor for individuals in acute distress.
- Different Mechanism of Action: Ketamine works differently from traditional antidepressants. It targets the glutamate system in the brain, whereas most antidepressants primarily affect serotonin and other neurotransmitters. This distinct mechanism of action provides an alternative approach for individuals who haven’t responded to other treatments.
- Shorter Treatment Duration: Ketamine treatments are typically administered over a shorter time frame compared to traditional antidepressants. This can be appealing to individuals who prefer not to commit to long-term medication use or psychotherapy.
- Potential for Long-lasting Effects: While the effects of ketamine may not be permanent for everyone, some individuals experience sustained relief from depression symptoms for an extended period after completing a series of ketamine treatments.
- Supervised and Controlled Environment: Ketamine is taken under supervision, which minimizes the risk of misuse or abuse. Patients take the drug in a controlled setting, ensuring their safety during the treatment.