Some patients begin to feel a difference by the evening or day after their first infusion. Even for “responders,” periods of sadness or depressed mood may still occur between infusions, but the overall trajectory of mood symptoms should be one of improvement. Responders may also find urges to self harm and suicidal thoughts diminished and ability to cope with stress improved.

Patients may find that functional improvements – getting a to-do list done, socializing more easily, etc. – occur before improvements in mood. Family and friends thus sometimes observe that a patient “seems better” even though the patient still feels the same. Changes can be gradual.

Some patients find that the positive effects of ketamine may wear off with time. There is research to suggest that in order for the effects of ketamine to be sustained, a maintenance regimen is advisable. The response of individual patients varies. There have been rare cases of remission after ketamine infusion therapy, but these should be considered the exception rather than the norm.

Ketamine should not at this time be thought of as a cure for depression but rather as an adjunct to ongoing treatment that can help reset a person’s baseline, relieve some of the suffering and hopelessness of major depression, and give other therapies such as oral medication and psychotherapy a chance to progress.

Ketamine is a Schedule III anesthetic agent. It was first developed in 1962 and later FDA approved for clinical use in 1970 primarily for use during the Vietnam War. Ketamine has had a tainted history because, much like similar medications that can cause dissociative effects, Ketamine became a drug of abuse (Special K). However, Ketamine continued to be a successful anesthetic being used in hospitals, dentist offices and medical practices with an excellent safety record.

In the past 5 – 7 years Ketamine was identified as having beneficial effects on patients with depression, suicidal ideations, anxiety, Bipolar disorder, PTSD and certain neuro-pathic pain syndromes. A large number of very reputable hospitals and organizations have studied Ketamine’s effectiveness in these areas and have shown very promising results.

Ketamine’s anesthetic effects are mediated by interactions with a member of the glutamate receptor family, the NMDA receptor. It interacts with other receptors as well, including opioid receptors, dopamine receptors, and a receptor known as the AMPA receptor, which is thought to be an important component of its antidepressant effects.

Rather than targeting neurotransmitters in the brain, ketamine is thought to target gene expression and protein manufacture in certain important brain pathways or circuits. It appears that ketamine restores brain synapses, both structurally and functionally, that have been damaged by the disease of depression.

Unfortunately, since Ketamine is out of it’s patent period the race is on to replicate Ketamine’s effectiveness into a new, marketable medication.

The treatment is here and available now. There is hope. There is help.

Because it is abused as a “party drug” or “club drug,” there are legitimate concerns about ketamine addiction. However, addiction has not been found when ketamine is used in the low doses given for these treatments. Additionally, these treatments are administered in a controlled setting by an anesthesia professional. We work closely with your referring physician or mental health provider to monitor your treatment.