Depression is a mental health disorder, something that simply cannot be cured by mere positive thinking or the choice of engaging in various activities as a form of distraction. Struggling with a depressive order entails a proper treatment, which can only be given by an expert. Left untreated, the disorder can eventually bleed into one’s professional and personal life, slowly destroying life.
Unfortunately, depression can affect almost everyone, even without a clear reason. To treat it, a series of medications may be prescribed, topped with psychotherapy sessions to ensure holistic healing. One of the most compelling treatments for depression remains to be Ketamine, which is a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties, administered by experts.
To learn more about this substance, we’ve created this quick and easy guide for you to follow:
Ketamine as a Treatment for Depression
In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved one particular type of ketamine for the treatment of treatment resistent depression. It was approved under the name esketamine, or Spravato as called by the drug manufacturer. Before this approval by the FDA and currently, the less expensive form of ketamine has been prevalent as an off-label drug to alleviate treatment-resistant depression and other mental health conditions. This specific ketamine approved by the FDA is very costly, used intra-nasally, and does not create the psychedelic experience, and as a result many providers working with ketamine often do not prescribe this type of ketamine. Other routes of administration are more frequently used and the majority of the research has been around the use of intravenous administration.
Unlike antidepressants like venlafaxin (Effexor) or fluoxetine (Prozac), ketamine works by blocking a receptor in the nervous system called N-methyl-D-aspartate or NMDA. The traditional antidepressants work on the serotonin receptors. The effects vary depending on the individual, with some patients with depression responding to ketamine while others do not experience the intended effects. The reason behind the varied responses to the drug still remains under investigation by researchers.
What Could Be Hindering Your Healing?
Not enough sessions
Ketamine treatment has varied effects for different people, with some people already experiencing some improvements after one or two sessions. However, some people do not feel the effects until after 4 sessions or later.
If you do not experience the effects of ketamine treatments on the first or second session, it may be tempting to just shrug it off as ineffective, but it’s important to be patient with yourself and continue the process for at least 4 treatments. For most people, the treatment is not as simple as flipping a switch. Continuing your ketamine treatment can be vital for the steady improvement of your neural connections and subsequently, your mood. Having dedicated integration or therapy support also can improve results and sustainability of those results.
Wrong dosage
Ketamine is a sensitive drug, and should therefore be used with caution. The aim is to administer just the right amount of dosage, preferably not too low and not too high. However, it is important to note that this right amount will vary per person and a number of factors besides just weight are taken into consideration when dosing.
Too little or too much can cause the entire treatment to crumble, which is why it’s important to only seek ketamine treatment done by a specialist. You’ll want a plan tailored specifically to your needs, so that your healing follows soon after.
The Bottom Line
Depression is an unfortunately common mental health disorder, but the good news is that it comes with a variety of treatment options. Holistic healing comes with understanding the patient well, and then coming up with ways to treat them as an individual—and never a statistic. Proper administration of ketamine allows holistic healing but remember to always seek a professional.
For the best mental health treatment in Santa Monica, CA, Stephanie Lyn Coleman MD is the place to go. We offer you a well-structured ketamine therapy program, ensuring that you regain quality of life and fall in love with yourself once more. Book a consultation today.