Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 280 people around the world suffer from depression, and many remain untreated. Depression is treatable through medication and therapy, but the available treatments don’t work for everyone. Some people spend years trying a variety of combinations without any significant change. These people suffer from what’s generally known as treatment-resistant depression, or TRD, a term used for depression that has failed to respond to two or more antidepressant treatments. The good news is that recent depression studies have found that ketamine shows promise for the treatment of TRD. Here’s what you need to know.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a quick-acting anesthetic that’s used legally for medical purposes. It’s also used illegally for recreational purposes. Ketamine provides a dissociative sensation that helps to relieve pain and induce sedation. It also causes visual and auditory distortions, which has led to its abuse as a club drug. Unlike other longer-lasting hallucinogens, however, the hallucinatory effects of ketamine typically last under an hour. Since the 1970s, ketamine has been marketed as an injectable, rapid-onset anesthetic. In 1999, it became classified as a Schedule III non-narcotic substance that is available by prescription only, with administration restricted to a certified healthcare setting. Ketamine has been used off-label for the treatment of certain mood disorders, including PTSD and depression, often by IV therapy. In 2019, the FDA approved Spravato (esketamine), a ketamine-derivative nasal spray, for the treatment of TRD.
Ketamine and treatment-resistant depression
Most people who seek treatment for depression are able to find long-term relief through a combination of conventional medication and therapy. Those with TRD, on the other hand, may continue to suffer from their symptoms for years or even decades, despite trying numerous combinations of medications, therapies, and alternative treatments. This suffering increases the risk of substance abuse and suicide. But ketamine and depression studies have shown ketamine to have therapeutic effects on regions of the brain that control mood and behavior, inducing rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects in patients for whom nothing else has worked.
Unlike traditional antidepressant medications, ketamine works quickly, even within hours, to ease symptoms. It’s also highly effective and long lasting. Many people achieve significant relief after one to three treatments, and after a full treatment series, beneficial brain changes occur, leading to long-term results. Ketamine is not a cure for depression, but the relief it can provide for those with TRD is life-changing.
Types of ketamine treatment for depression
There are two main types of ketamine treatment for TRD. They include:
Ketamine IV infusions
IV ketamine involves a carefully dosed infusion administered in a healthcare setting. Treatments can take 45-90 minutes, in addition to an observation period for assessment of side effects. Depending on the individual, the treatment schedule may include several treatments in the first week, with the number tapering off each week until only monthly maintenance treatments are needed.
Esketamine nasal spray (Spravato)
Spravato nasal spray contains esketamine, a drug derived from ketamine. It is prescribed in combination with an oral antidepressant and administered in a healthcare setting. A two-hour observation period is required after treatment. Typically, treatments are scheduled more often in the first month and then tapered off to a lesser frequency.
Ketamine is not a first-line treatment for depression. But for those who have been unable to find relief through conventional methods of treatment, it can significantly improve quality of life.
Depression clinical trial in San Diego | Synergy Research Centers
Ketamine is a major breakthrough in depression treatment, and ketamine and depression studies have played a significant role in advancing the treatment and delivering it to those who need it most. But more research is still needed to help find effective treatment for depression for everyone. If you or someone you know suffers from depression, you may be eligible to participate in one of our depression clinical studies in San Diego. Not only will you be contributing to scientific innovation, but you’ll also gain access to cutting edge new depression treatments. For more information on our depression clinical trial, give us a call at (888) 539-0282 or fill out our contact form today.