Not all treatment methods for depression work for everyone, leaving many feeling hopeless and desperate for relief. For those not responding well to other treatments, ketamine therapy is a great alternative.
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Depression is treated in many ways. Not all treatment methods for depression work for everyone, leaving many feeling hopeless and desperate for relief. For those not responding well to other treatments, an alternative for them is ketamine therapy.
Ketamine used for depression treatment is a relatively new invention. For decades, ketamine was used as an anesthetic drug used in medical settings. But now, studies have shown how it is also effective in treating depression.
This article will explore the advantages of ketamine therapy for depression and show how ketamine works to provide relief from a depressive disorder.
Ketamine used to typically be used as anesthesia medicine, but it is now a cutting-edge depression treatment. This substance is a dissociative anesthetic traditionally used in surgical procedures and emergency medicine.
But ketamine can also be useful in treating certain mental health conditions. In particular, it works well for treatment-resistant depression. Treatment-resistant depression simply means depression that doesn’t respond positively to traditional treatments, like antidepressant medication.
Ketamine therapy involves delivering a dose of the substance through an IV infusion or intranasal spray like SPRAVATO®. The delivery must be done in a clinical setting, with a medical professional administering the dose.
For the full therapeutic effect to take place, those undergoing ketamine treatment may require multiple doses over the course of a few weeks.
As for the action mechanism of the therapy, it is thought to work by modulating the activity of certain neurotransmitters. To be specific, glutamate. This action forms a new neural connection, which therefore helps alleviate symptoms of depression.
Ketamine works more quickly than traditional antidepressants. Traditional antidepressants may take a long time to work—usually weeks or even months—but ketamine’s positive effects can be experienced within hours of treatment.
But it’s wise to remember that ketamine therapy will not entirely cure depression. Ketamine is better viewed as a treatment that provides relief from symptoms. Some patients may still require ongoing therapy and medication management.
Ketamine therapy is often said to be useful in treating treatment-resistant depression. This term refers to people who have not responded to the regular antidepressant treatments.
As mentioned, ketamine therapy provides rapid improvement of depressive symptoms. It can produce antidepressant effects shortly after the first infusion, often within hours.
Sometimes, a single infusion may provide significant and enduring relief. For others, multiple infusions may be necessary to maintain the therapeutic effects.
There are other conditions that ketamine treatments manage besides depressive disorders. These other mental health conditions include the following:
As with depression, ketamine therapy reduces symptoms and improves overall mood in these conditions.
Other than mental health conditions, ketamine therapy is still used to manage chronic pain. As with depressive disorder, ketamine is used where traditional painkillers are ineffective or cause unwanted side effects.
The analgesic effect of ketamine alleviates many types of chronic pain problems. Neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia are among the conditions it treats, as well as complex regional pain syndrome.
If you have been struggling with treatment resistant depression and are looking for relief, ketamine therapy may be the solution for you.
At NeuroSpa, our certified clinicians are here to guide you through a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to determine a customized treatment plan that will give you the positive improvement you’re looking for.
If ketamine therapy is a fit for you, our team of professionals will closely monitor your progress and ensure treatment is alleviating your symptoms of depression.
NeuroSpa’s treatments for major depression go beyond ketamine therapy. Our clinic provides various therapy and treatments for different mental health conditions, including TMS therapy, SPRAVATO®, and telehealth services.
If you’ve been struggling with depression or another mental health condition, schedule an appointment today.
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