{"id":6654,"date":"2023-08-18T23:27:09","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T16:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=6654"},"modified":"2023-08-18T23:27:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T16:27:09","slug":"ketamine-for-depression-5-important-fyis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=6654","title":{"rendered":"Ketamine for Depression: 5 Important FYIs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">W<\/span>hile ketamine has been FDA-approved for half a century <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK470357\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK470357\/\">as an anesthetic<\/a>, it\u2019s been gaining recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/ketamine-wellness\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/ketamine-wellness\/\">traction in the scientific and wellness communities<\/a> for its promise to treat our mental health\u2014and in particular, to alleviate treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In fact, a growing body of research shows that it can offer a rapid onset of relief compared to other treatments. It seems like this psychedelic drug could be a magic bullet\u2026 but is it really?<\/div>\n<p>As someone with TRD who recently tried ketamine therapy for herself, trust me when I say there\u2019s a lot of info to digest and consider before you dive into treatment. Ahead, discover what experts want you to know about using ketamine for depression\u2014including what it can and can\u2019t do, and how to discern if it could be right for you.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>5 important FYIs about ketamine for depression<\/h2>\n<h3>1. It works differently from common treatments for depression<\/h3>\n<p>Ketamine is still in its relative infancy as a treatment for depression, and the precise biochemical mechanism leading to its efficacy has yet to be confirmed. One hypothesis is that ketamine may <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37160885\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37160885\/\">enhance neuroplasticity<\/a>, or the brain\u2019s ability to change and adapt, which could mediate or even reverse depression. Another is that it increases the availability of <a href=\"https:\/\/medicine.yale.edu\/psychiatry\/emerge\/research\/ketamine-glutamate-depression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/medicine.yale.edu\/psychiatry\/emerge\/research\/ketamine-glutamate-depression\/\">glutamate<\/a>, a key neurotransmitter, says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.docseducation.com\/faculty\/steve-yun-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.docseducation.com\/faculty\/steve-yun-md\">Steve Yun, MD,<\/a> an anesthesiologist and the medical director of <a href=\"https:\/\/kureketamine.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/kureketamine.com\/\">Kure Medical Group<\/a>, a ketamine infusion clinic in Santa Monica, California. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8586693\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8586693\/\">\u201cmaster neurotransmitter\u201d<\/a> is important for cognition, memory, and mood regulation, and mounting evidence shows that getting a sudden surge of it in the brain is likely associated with rapid relief from depressive symptoms.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/ketamine-for-depression\/\" current-title=\"Can Ketamine Therapy Really Cure Depression? Here\u2019s What You Should Know About the Promising, Trending Treatment\" current-image=\"GettyImages-ketamine-for-depression-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-02-18\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/ketamine-for-depression\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/ketamine-for-depression\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/ketamine-for-depression\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cIn contrast, traditional antidepressants work by increasing the supply of a different neurotransmitter: serotonin,\u201d Dr. Yun says. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK554406\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK554406\/\">Consistent intake of antidepressant SSRIs<\/a> are necessary for them to work\u2014and it can take weeks or months to feel their effects. In contrast, ketamine can provide discernible relief upon the first administration and doesn\u2019t require long-term, daily use.<\/p>\n<p>Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), another treatment for severe depression and bipolar disorder, works by inducing seizures that may \u201c\u2018reset\u2019 the brain and relieve depressive symptoms,\u201d Dr. Yun explains. Yet a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMoa2302399?query=featured_home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMoa2302399?query=featured_home\">2023 study<\/a> found that subanesthetic intravenous ketamine was at least as effective as ECT, while avoiding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mind.org.uk\/information-support\/drugs-and-treatments\/electroconvulsive-therapy-ect\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.mind.org.uk\/information-support\/drugs-and-treatments\/electroconvulsive-therapy-ect\/\">ECT\u2019s potential risks<\/a> like memory loss and pain.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Different forms of ketamine treatment are available<\/h3>\n<p>Medicinal ketamine can be administered in different forms, including via nasal spray, infusion (IV), intramuscular (IM) shot, and ingestibles. The \u201cS\u201d form of ketamine via nasal spray\u2014known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/news-events\/press-announcements\/fda-approves-new-nasal-spray-medication-treatment-resistant-depression-available-only-certified\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/news-events\/press-announcements\/fda-approves-new-nasal-spray-medication-treatment-resistant-depression-available-only-certified\">esketamine<\/a>, or by the brand name Spravato\u2014is the only FDA-approved form of ketamine administration for TRD, though the other forms are permitted for off-label use. Dr. Yun, whose clinic administers ketamine via infusion, believes infusion to be the most reliable method of ketamine administration, and says it has the most robust evidence behind it to date.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA nasal ketamine spray should work in theory because there usually is good absorption of the drug via the nasal mucosa,&#8221; he says, &#8220;but it is very dependent on the practitioner&#8217;s technique, [and the] patient&#8217;s ability to cooperate. And the nasal spray is prohibitively expensive.\u201d (Though Spravato is covered by some insurances.)<\/p>\n<p>At-home, self-administered ketamine treatments are also available, but they\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6248331\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6248331\/\">not recommended<\/a> by the American Psychiatric Association Council of Research Task Force on Novel Biomarkers and Treatments, since the drug could raise someone\u2019s heart rate and blood pressure to concerning levels, and potentially cause psychoactive effects for up to two hours. Ketamine also has a history of being a drug people abuse (known as &#8220;special K&#8221;).<\/p>\n<h3>3. It\u2019s most suitable for specific mental health conditions<\/h3>\n<p>Ketamine therapy is ideal for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatrist.com\/jcp\/depression\/prevalence-national-burden-treatment-resistant-depression-major-depressive-disorder-in-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatrist.com\/jcp\/depression\/prevalence-national-burden-treatment-resistant-depression-major-depressive-disorder-in-us\/\">people with TRD<\/a>, meaning they\u2019ve been unable to respond well or achieve remission after being treated with two or more medications. \u201cThere is growing scientific evidence that ketamine therapy can effectively relieve symptoms in these severe cases,\u201d Dr. Yun says. In addition to its promise to treat major depressive disorder, ketamine infusion can elicit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0165032723006110\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0165032723006110\">positive outcomes for anxiety<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3799067\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3799067\/\">obsessive-compulsive disorder<\/a> (OCD). It may also be beneficial for those with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3425\/13\/6\/909\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3425\/13\/6\/909\">treatment-resistant bipolar disorder<\/a>, though more evidence via stronger studies is needed.<\/p>\n<p>However, Dr. Yun warns that people with a history of psychosis should avoid ketamine therapy, since the treatment may exacerbate symptoms given its <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSLS-1105153%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.nature.com%252Farticles%252Fs41467-020-20190-4&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fketamine-for-depression%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-020-20190-4\">dissociative effects<\/a>. (In people without psychosis, these same effects can actually be beneficial\u2014altering consciousness and perceptions of themselves and their environment can yield antidepressant effects.)<\/p>\n<h3>4. It\u2019ll likely require an investment of time and money<\/h3>\n<p>Most ketamine treatments for depression are for off-label use, and in many cases, insurance won\u2019t cover the treatment. Even FDA-approved esketamine may not be covered, depending on the insurance you have.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, it doesn\u2019t hurt to consult potential providers and your insurance company to see what options are available, but know that treatments can be costly. (Per my own handful of consultations for ketamine infusions in Los Angeles, prices ranged from $350 to $750 a session, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/ketamine-for-treatment-resistant-depression-when-and-where-is-it-safe-202208092797\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/ketamine-for-treatment-resistant-depression-when-and-where-is-it-safe-202208092797\">six sessions<\/a> often recommended based on clinical trials.) Moreover, you may wish to work alongside a therapist who specializes in ketamine integration\u2014i.e., unpacking any visions or breakthroughs you experience during treatment and learning how to apply them going forward\u2014which can take a bigger hit on your wallet.<\/p>\n<p>If you do decide to undergo treatment, it\u2019s also important to get in the right headspace before and after treatment. While you technically <em>can<\/em> work your normal 9-to-5 before and potentially after a ketamine session, providers typically advise avoiding stimulation and prioritizing calming activities\u2014like meditating, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/journaling-in-morning\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/journaling-in-morning\/\">journaling<\/a>, and spending time in nature\u2014the evening before and the day of treatment. It may be in your best interest to take time off work and hit pause on other obligations, so be sure to factor that into your plans accordingly.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Ketamine isn\u2019t a cure-all<\/h3>\n<p>While ketamine continues to show promise to alleviate TRD both immediately and in the long run, it\u2019s important to manage expectations. \u201cPatient response is highly variable and it is difficult to make generalizations,\u201d Dr. Yun says. \u201cBroadly speaking, the majority of patients will experience significant relief from their symptoms in the short term, [but] long-term efficacy is more unpredictable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During a single ketamine treatment, you may experience things like less rumination, positive visualizations, pain relief, and a sense of calm or even euphoria. (At the same time, less favorable experiences can include nausea, dizziness, and fear\u2014though most of these side effects are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/news-releases\/side-effects-mild-brief-single-antidepressant-dose-intravenous-ketamine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/news-releases\/side-effects-mild-brief-single-antidepressant-dose-intravenous-ketamine\">typically mild<\/a>.) In the best case scenario, continued treatment may yield complete remission from depression, but this is far from guaranteed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt Kure, we do not make any false promises that ketamine therapy will be a miracle cure and completely and permanently eliminate all depressive symptoms,\u201d Dr. Yun says. He recommends that patients still keep up with their current therapies\u2014whether medicinal, psychological, or both\u2014under the guidance of a trusted healthcare professional. \u201cBut for those patients who have failed traditional antidepressant therapy, ketamine is a viable alternative that can provide significant relief.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While ketamine has been FDA-approved for half a century as an anesthetic, it\u2019s been gaining recent traction in the scientific and wellness communities for its promise to treat our mental health\u2014and in particular, to alleviate treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In fact, a growing body of research shows that it can offer a rapid onset of relief &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6654"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6654\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}