If you’re struggling with depression you might want to consider Ketamine therapy. Coming up you’ll learn what it is and the potential benefits it might offer.
When it comes to treating depression or any mental disorder, it is never a one-size-fits-all solution.
There are many options on the market for standard antidepressants and various depression therapies.
But some patients do not respond to these strategies. Or they are unable to take specific medications due to severe reactions to the potential side effects.
Thankfully, we are now seeing more medication alternatives. And one specifically that has gained more attention for its positive impact on treating depression is ketamine therapy.
I’m writing about ketamine therapy because I’m a bestselling author on depression with about 2 million books sold globally.
Plus I founded the therapist recommended self-paced online course called The Anxiety Cure.
I love to help people to live happier lives. So I put together this article all about how to treat depression with ketamine. As always, please check with your doctor before you take any new kind of medication or treatment.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine, a medication that has been used in anesthesiology for the past 50 years for both people and animals, now has a place in the treatment of depression and related mental disorders. In recent years, the positive response to ketamine treatments has gained recognition as an effective combatant of clinical depression.
The initial research of ketamine treatment for depression began in the ‘90s and in 2019 we saw the very first FDA-approved ketamine treatment in the form of a nasal spray known as Spravato. This is especially relevant to those suffering from treatment-resistant depression and those looking for an alternative to medication.
Why Look into Ketamine Treatments?
Traditional antidepressant medications like SSRI’s need to be taken daily, and without them, the effects wear off immediately. There is also the possibility of symptoms involved in taking antidepressants such as:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Irritability and anxiousness
- Dizziness and blurred vision
- Insomnia or drowsiness
- Sexual side effects such as erectile dysfunction and loss of libido
While traditional medications can work and change the lives of many people suffering from depression, they do not work for everyone. Ketamine treatments offer lasting effects by triggering glutamate production which prompts the brain to form more neural connections. This allows the brain to create new passageways allowing for the flow of positive thoughts and behaviors which is an effect that had never been witnessed before with traditional antidepressants.
Ketamine has also been shown to help reduce inflammation of the brain which can also be a cause of depression.
What Does a Ketamine Treatment Consist of? What are the Benefits?
There are several methods to administer ketamine, but the typical treatment consists of six doses spread out over the course of 2-3 weeks either through the Spravato nasal spray or intravenous infusions. Other methods include muscular injections or rapid-dissolving tablets.
Ketamine treatment has proven to have a positive response with as many as 70% of treatment-resistant patients. This makes it more than twice as effective as traditional antidepressants.
Another outstanding benefit of ketamine treatment is how quickly patients experience results and relief. Especially when in the midst of a major depressive episode.
Ketamine therapy can also offer long-lasting relief from depression symptoms after a single treatment cycle, while many conventional medications must be taken indefinitely and can take weeks or months before seeing any results.
For those suffering from depression, PTSD, anxiety, or a variety of other mental disorders, it is very crucial that you communicate with your doctor to find out if ketamine treatments are a good fit for you.
Ketamine can be a promising and hopeful solution for those looking to avoid the side effects that come with medications, or those who have shown resistance to medications in the past.
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