Ketamine & S-Ketamine

What was the initial use of ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication that was originally developed for use as an anesthetic. In the 1960s, the drug was used to sedate animals during surgery and other procedures. Ketamine received FDA approval for use in humans in 1970 and was instrumental in treating battlefield injuries during the Vietnam War. 

Over time, physicians who administered ketamine to patients began to notice that the drug appeared to help lift severe depression and even gave patients a reprieve from suicidal ideations. After extensive research, ketamine, and its derivative, esketamine, is now recognized as an effective treatment in patients for whom other depression therapies have proven ineffective or insufficient.   

How does ketamine work in people with depression?

Ketamine works by increasing glutamate, a brain chemical that plays key roles in learning, memory, and brain function. Most depression medications work by increasing the chemical messengers that relay mood signals, thereby improving communication between brain cells. 

Ketamine is a dissociative drug that creates immediate results. Unlike most medications for depression, which require weeks to build up and deliver results, ketamine creates noticeable improvements in depressive symptoms within just a few hours of treatment. 

Research shows that ketamine/esketamine can be a life-changing therapy for people who suffer from depression and have not found lasting relief through talk therapy and conventional drug therapy. 

What can I expect during ketamine therapy?

Ketamine often creates a temporary distortion in perception for a few hours after treatment, so it is only administered in a clinical setting by practitioners trained in how to deliver the medication and screen for side effects. 

If you use esketamine in a nasal spray format, you’ll learn how to administer the medication under medical supervision. Most commonly, the nasal spray is delivered in three doses with a few moments break between each. You’ll then relax in the office while the medication takes effect. 

Once any potential side effects have faded away, you can resume the rest of your day. Dr. Ghorieshi will work with you to determine if this treatment approach is delivering the desired improvements and will advise you on the treatment timing moving forward. 

If you’re searching for a new path toward relief from depression symptoms, schedule a consultation at Palo Alto Mind Body to explore ketamine/esketamine in greater detail. You can book your visit online with just a few clicks or over the phone during regular business hours.