How Ketamine Therapy Differs From Other Depression Treatment Options

Ketamine therapy is one of a few new depression treatments that offer help to depression patients when more traditional therapies do not produce sufficient results. If you have tried other depression treatments and are still struggling, this may be something your psychiatrist recommends. Here are some key things to know about ketamine therapy and how it differs from other treatments.

What is ketamine therapy?

Ketamine therapy employs ketamine, a dissociative drug used in anesthesia and pain management, to help relieve the symptoms of certain mental health conditions, including depression. Though ketamine has been used in medicine for decades, it has only recently been used to treat depression. Therefore, physicians exercise caution when prescribing ketamine therapy. This therapy can offer a number of benefits, including rapid onset of relief and a way to avoid side effects associated with traditional depression treatments such as antidepressants.

Ketamine therapy vs. traditional depression treatments

Like other depression treatments, ketamine comes with side effects, and some of the best results come from combining ketamine therapy with talk therapy. However, when considering this drug therapy, it helps to understand how it differs from other drugs, like antidepressants, used to treat depression.

Who is a candidate?

A significant difference between ketamine therapy and the use of antidepressants is who it is recommended for. The ideal candidate is a patient with treatment-resistant depression. This is usually a person who has tried at least two antidepressant drugs without success. However, a psychiatrist may consider this therapy for candidates who cannot take antidepressant drugs or cannot cope with the side effects of these drugs. Also, because ketamine has been used illicitly as a party drug, it carries a risk of addiction. Therefore, those with substance use disorder are not good candidates.

How it is administered

Antidepressant drugs are largely administered via oral tablets or pills. However, ketamine is typically administered through an IV or nasal spray. In addition, with antidepressants, the medication is taken daily. Ketamine therapy is typically delivered in a series of treatments over several weeks, followed by maintenance treatments.

How it works

The large majority of antidepressants work by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin in the brain that deal with depression. Ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain. This action increases the neurotransmitter glutamate, leading to a cascade effect that promotes new neural connections, improving mood and alleviating depression symptoms.

How fast it works

One significant complaint patients have about traditional antidepressants is how long they take to work. Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can take weeks to months to kick in. However, ketamine therapy can produce faster improvements in symptoms. Many patients notice the effects just hours or days after treatment.

Helping you find depression relief

Hope TMS and Neuropsychiatric Center works with all types of patients struggling to overcome depression. Every case of depression is unique, and what works for one patient may not work for another. Call our team today to learn more about ketamine therapy or to make an appointment to learn which therapy is right for you.

Request an appointment here: https://www.hopetmsofny.com or call Hope TMS and Neuropsychiatric Center at (646) 578-8152 for an appointment in our New York office.

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