Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that has therapy use in mental health treatments, such as for major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Key points:
NMDA Receptor Modulation: Ketamine acts as a non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, leading to increased levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate. This, in turn, triggers a cascade of effects that may contribute to its antidepressant properties.
Rapid Onset of Effects: Individuals may experience improvements in mood within hours or days, in contrast to the delayed onset often seen with traditional antidepressants.
Administration Routes: Ketamine can be administered via different routes, including intravenous (IV) infusion, intramuscular injection, or, more recently, as a nasal spray called esketamine.
Treatment-Resistant Depression: Ketamine is often considered in cases of treatment-resistant depression where individuals have not responded to other standard antidepressant treatments.
Maintenance Treatment: The duration of ketamine’s antidepressant effects can vary among individuals. Some may require maintenance treatments to sustain the benefits over time.
Potential Side Effects: Ketamine treatment is not without potential side effects, including dissociation, nausea, and transient increases in blood pressure.