Ketamine
Ketamine is a new possible treatment for individuals suffering from severe depression. Thirty percent of individuals diagnosed with depression do not respond to traditional medication treatment. About 16 million Americans are diagnoses with depression each year.
Ketamine is defined as a dissociative anesthetic, traditionally used in anesthesiology as a safe and effective sedative at high doses for surgical procedures. The use of this drug at high doses produces sedating effects without disrupting respiratory functioning or lowering blood pressure levels. It is presently classified as a Scheduled III drug, which permits the use of this drug in medical facilities.
Ketamine when administered at low doses creates a safe hypnotic, dissociative state that slightly alters consciousness and perception. Ketamine experienced at these lowered doses has been described as a slight out of body experience, accompanied with visual and auditory effects. Ketamine had gained popularity as a party drug and has potential for abuse when used recreationally as opposed to under the guidance and supervision of a qualified medical professional.
Ketamine is defined as a dissociative anesthetic, traditionally used in anesthesiology as a safe and effective sedative at high doses for surgical procedures. The use of this drug at high doses produces sedating effects without disrupting respiratory functioning or lowering blood pressure levels. It is presently classified as a Scheduled III drug, which permits the use of this drug in medical facilities.
Ketamine when administered at low doses creates a safe hypnotic, dissociative state that slightly alters consciousness and perception. Ketamine experienced at these lowered doses has been described as a slight out of body experience, accompanied with visual and auditory effects. Ketamine had gained popularity as a party drug and has potential for abuse when used recreationally as opposed to under the guidance and supervision of a qualified medical professional.
Ketamine when administered by a qualified and trained medical professional offers very effective remedy for individual’s suffering from treatment-resistant depression. In treatment-resistant depression, a patient’s depressive symptoms do not respond well or at all to traditional anti-depressant medication. According to numerous research studies, Ketamine infusion treatments have been shown to provide safe, instant relief from persistent depressive symptoms.
The mechanism behind Ketamine treatment affects the brain differently than traditional anti-depressant treatments. With anti-depressant medications, they adjust the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Alternately, Ketamine treatment does not adjust the levels of these existing neurotransmitters, instead Ketamine blocks certain receptors, particularly the NMDA receptor which has been believed by many researchers to have a primary role in depression. Ketamine’s NMDA antagonism influences the way in which the brain interacts with other neurotransmitters in the brain. This direct antagonism provides faster onset in the relief from depressive symptoms. The direct antagonism has indirect effect on other neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and opiate receptor systems.
The mechanism behind Ketamine treatment affects the brain differently than traditional anti-depressant treatments. With anti-depressant medications, they adjust the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Alternately, Ketamine treatment does not adjust the levels of these existing neurotransmitters, instead Ketamine blocks certain receptors, particularly the NMDA receptor which has been believed by many researchers to have a primary role in depression. Ketamine’s NMDA antagonism influences the way in which the brain interacts with other neurotransmitters in the brain. This direct antagonism provides faster onset in the relief from depressive symptoms. The direct antagonism has indirect effect on other neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and opiate receptor systems.
Conventional antidepressant medications have a longer onset, up to 8 weeks before the medication takes full effect. With Ketamine treatment, onset of effects take place immediately. The rapid effects from the Ketamine treatment make it an especially effective treatment for individuals suffering from suicidal thoughts. Ketamine treatments also have significantly lowered instance of side effects compared with antidepressant medications.
If you believe you would benefit from Ketamine treatment, the first step is to speak with a qualified health professional that may refer you to a reliable infusion treatment center.
If you believe you would benefit from Ketamine treatment, the first step is to speak with a qualified health professional that may refer you to a reliable infusion treatment center.
At Psychiatrists of Los Angeles, we are here for you, and you want to feel better. Please give us a call and we can help:
Call us at: 323-609-4601
Call us at: 323-609-4601
