What is Ketamine Therapy?

What is Ketamine?

Originally developed as anesthesia and researched for decades, ketamine is a generic drug that is not owned by any one person or business. It is FDA-approved as a sole anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures, and it is sometimes prescribed "off-label" for the treatment of depression and other mental health conditions. However, ketamine treatment for depression or other conditions typically involves lower doses than those used for surgical anesthesia.

How Does Ketamine Work in the Body?

Ketamine is a rapid-acting medication that affects the central nervous system. It primarily acts as an antagonist, meaning it blocks the activity of certain receptors in the brain, particularly the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors.

By blocking these receptors, ketamine inhibits the effects of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in learning, memory, and various brain functions. It also increases the release of other neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with mood regulation and the brain's reward system.

Ketamine also interacts with other receptors and neurotransmitter systems in the brain, such as opioid receptors, serotonin receptors, and dopamine receptors, although research is ongoing and exact mechanisms are not fully understood.

What Does Ketamine Therapy Treat?

Ketamine has been particularly studied and used as a potential treatment for treatment-resistant depression, or depression that has not responded to other forms of therapy. It may offer rapid-acting antidepressant effects, providing relief for individuals who have not experienced improvement with traditional antidepressant medications. In fact, the Department of Veteran Affairs recently added ketamine infusion therapy as an adjunctive treatment option for individuals with major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation

In addition to depression, ketamine has shown promise in the treatment of other mental health conditions. For example, a study published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2014 examined the effects of ketamine on individuals with treatment-resistant bipolar depression. The researchers reported significant improvements in depressive symptoms compared to a placebo group.

Ketamine therapy has also been explored as a treatment option for various anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

It's important to note that while ketamine therapy has shown promising results in these conditions, it is not a first-line treatment and is typically considered when other treatment options have been unsuccessful. Ketamine therapy should always be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional who can assess its suitability and monitor its effects on an individual basis.

Get Started by Scheduling a Consultation

You might have questions, and we have answers. If you live in Southern California and are interested in ketamine therapy in Escondido, CA, then call BFF Medical Wellness Clinic to get in touch with a knowledgeable and friendly member of our team. We are happy to address questions or concerns or schedule a consultation.