Treating Major Depression with Ketamine
Treating depression isn’t always easy. Some respond well to traditional psychotherapy and oral medications. Others, unfortunately, may only experience temporary relief and find their symptoms come back--maybe worse than before.
It’s frustrating. It could leave one feeling hopeless and powerless. For someone battling major depression, these feelings may only make the symptoms worse.
Have you tried multiple depression medications that don’t seem to help? Have the side effects of these medications affected your quality of life?
You’re not alone...up to ⅓ of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not respond to 2 or more oral antidepressants.
But there’s hope. Researchers continue to make strides in understanding depression. Options are available for those with MDD and treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
In fact, newer, more non-traditional depression treatments have helped those who suffered for years with TRD and MDD. This includes ketamine.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic that’s been around since the 1970s. It’s been used for human and veterinary purposes. Ketamine’s sedative and dissociative effects helped those in operating rooms and even fallen soldiers on the battlefield.
More recently, researchers discovered lower doses of ketamine may effectively treat some forms of major depression and treatment-resistant depression.
Ketamine Approaches Depression Differently
How does ketamine help with depression? Let’s start by looking at more traditional treatments.
Typical SSRI oral medications like Zoloft or Lexapro address brain chemistry like serotonin levels. In general, it may take months to experience any kind of relief as the body adjusts to these oral medications.
Ketamine helps repair damage from excess proteins in the brain caused by years of stress. Thus, increasing the brain’s plasticity and ability to heal. It’s a complicated process involving key receptors of the brain and creating more neurotransmitters in spaces between neurons. This, ultimately, helps neurons communicate with each other along new pathways.
What does this mean for you?
Many oral depression medications take a long time (if ever) before you notice any improvements in your depressive symptoms.
For some patients, ketamine treatments produce noticeable results in serious symptoms of depression, sometimes including suicidal thoughts and acts, after a couple of weeks of treatment.
Those taking ketamine for depression generally experience fewer side effects compared to some oral medications.
Types of Ketamine Treatments
There are three types of Ketamine treatments: IV infusion, intramuscular, and nasal spray. The most common forms of using ketamine to treat depression include:
IV infusion (racemic ketamine) an IV medication that uses two molecules (“R” and “S” ketamine). This original ketamine treatment was approved by the FDA decades ago as an anesthetic. Some health providers use it “off-label” to treat depression.
Nasal Spray (esketamine) uses only the “S” molecule and was approved by the FDA in 2019 to treat major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Clinical studies have shown using ketamine nasal spray with current oral depression medications can improve major depression symptoms in as little as four weeks.
Lozenges Ketamine lozenges are a newer form of ketamine administration that is rapidly gaining popularity. Lozenges are taken orally and dissolve in the mouth. They are less bioavailable than other forms of ketamine, meaning that a smaller percentage of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream. This results in a more gradual onset and longer duration of action.
Here are some of the benefits of ketamine lozenges:
More gradual onset and longer duration of action: This allows for more control over the dosage and experience.
Can be taken at home: This is convenient and can be more affordable than other forms of ketamine administration.
Less invasive: Lozenges do not require injections or nasal sprays.
Intramuscular Injection is a relatively quick and easy procedure that can be performed in a doctor's office or clinic.
Ketamine is injected into the muscle tissue, usually in the buttocks or thigh. The drug is absorbed into the bloodstream over time, and its effects typically begin within 15-20 minutes.
Intramuscular injection of ketamine is generally safe and well-tolerated.
Here are some of the benefits of intramuscular injection of ketamine:
Quick and easy procedure
Can be performed in a doctor's office or clinic
Effects typically begin within 15-20 minutes
Ketamine lozenges and intermuscular Infusion are often used in KAP because they allow for more control over the dosage and experience.
The Moment Health currently provides all three forms of ketamine treatment, as well as KAP.
We offer ketamine treatments, when appropriate, as part of our comprehensive approach to treating depression.
GOOD NEWS: WE ARE NOW IN-NETWORK FOR KETAMINE NASAL SPRAY TREATMENT WITH MAGELLAN, BLUE SHIELD OF CA, ANTHEM BLUE CROSS, AND CIGNA. MOST PPO INSURANCES ALSO COVER THE COSTS OF KETAMINE FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY.
Want to Learn More About Ketamine Therapy?
Ketamine is not for everyone. If you feel frustrated from trying multiple depression medications and approaches, it may be a good time to see if ketamine can help.
If you are ready to explore depression treatment options like Ketamine, The Moment is ready to help. We are a physician-owned and managed wellness community focused on evidence-based and holistic mental health treatments.
The moment you step into our office you’ll notice we are not your typical doctor’s office. We don’t bounce you around from office to office to get services. In fact, we have a dedicated team of mental health professionals onsite ready to treat conditions like depression, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction.
Is Ketamine right for you?
We’ll answer your questions and discuss if Ketamine can help with your depression.
Give us a call at (424) 532-1552 or send us an email.