Depression NeuConnections June 5, 2022

Ketamine Therapy for Depression

Ketamine Therapy for
Depression

Ketamine Therapy for Depression

Depression is the most common mood disorder affecting people around the world. 

While common, it is a serious condition that causes symptoms that affect how you think, feel, and go about your daily life.
It can remove the joy out of life and make simple daily requirements like eating, sleeping, and working difficult to accomplish. While feeling sad, lonely, and unmotivated are normal part of the human experience, the average person feels these effects then typically recovers in a short period of time.
Depression differs in that it causes these feelings to be more intense and they don’t go away on their own. This is because depression is associated with an imbalance of brain chemicals that requires medication to treat.

 

Depression is the most common mood disorder affecting people around the world. 

While common, it is a serious condition that causes symptoms that affect how you think, feel, and go about your daily life.
It can remove the joy out of life and make simple daily requirements like eating, sleeping, and working difficult to accomplish. While feeling sad, lonely, and unmotivated are normal part of the human experience, the average person feels these effects then typically recovers in a short period of time.
Depression differs in that it causes these feelings to be more intense and they don’t go away on their own. This is because depression is associated with an imbalance of brain chemicals that requires medication to treat.

0 %
of adults in the USA

reported taking antidepressant medication

0
adults in the USA

have a Major Depressive Disorder

0
Americans

report taking antidepressants for at least five years

How Ketamine Can Help

Rapid Relief:
Ketamine often provides relief from depressive symptoms within hours to days, compared to weeks for traditional antidepressants.

Treatment-Resistant Depression:
Ketamine is effective in individuals who have not responded to other treatments, making it a valuable option for treatment-resistant depression.

Mechanism of Action:
Ketamine works on different neurotransmitter systems than standard antidepressants, targeting glutamate and NMDA receptors, potentially offering an alternative pathway to alleviate depression.

Neuroplasticity:
Ketamine may promote neural connections and synaptogenesis, leading to increased brain plasticity and the potential for lasting improvements.

Improved Mood:
Patients often report significant improvements in mood, reduced feelings of hopelessness, and increased motivation after ketamine treatment.

Suicidal Ideation:
Ketamine has shown to rapidly reduce suicidal thoughts and decrease the risk of self-harm in individuals with severe depression.

Long-Lasting Effects:
Although the effects may not always be permanent, ketamine can provide relief that extends beyond the immediate treatment period, giving patients a valuable reprieve from depressive symptoms.

Minimal Side Effects:
Compared to traditional antidepressants, ketamine typically has fewer side effects, making it a well-tolerated option for many patients.

Rapid Relief:
Ketamine often provides relief from depressive symptoms within hours to days, compared to weeks for traditional antidepressants.

Treatment-Resistant Depression:
Ketamine is effective in individuals who have not responded to other treatments, making it a valuable option for treatment-resistant depression.

Mechanism of Action:
Ketamine works on different neurotransmitter systems than standard antidepressants, targeting glutamate and NMDA receptors, potentially offering an alternative pathway to alleviate depression.

Neuroplasticity:
Ketamine may promote neural connections and synaptogenesis, leading to increased brain plasticity and the potential for lasting improvements.

Improved Mood:
Patients often report significant improvements in mood, reduced feelings of hopelessness, and increased motivation after ketamine treatment.

Suicidal Ideation:
Ketamine has shown to rapidly reduce suicidal thoughts and decrease the risk of self-harm in individuals with severe depression.

Long-Lasting Effects:
Although the effects may not always be permanent, ketamine can provide relief that extends beyond the immediate treatment period, giving patients a valuable reprieve from depressive symptoms.

Minimal Side Effects:
Compared to traditional antidepressants, ketamine typically has fewer side effects, making it a well-tolerated option for many patients.

How Ketamine Works

Increases Neuroplasticity

Boosts neuroplasticity, which promotes the brain’s ability to adapt, heal, and learn new behaviors and patterns.

Stimulates Neural Pathways

Stimulates growth of neural pathways and disrupts thought loops that may contribute to anxiety and depression.

Regulates Emotions

Helps control emotions and creates an anti-anxiety effect helping to alleviate the need to continue to use.

Rapid Antidepressant Effect

Regulates glutamate, a vital neurotransmitter that helps us process thoughts and emotions.

A New You

Ketamine offers new hope for lasting life change for those suffering from mental health conditions.

Increases Neuroplasticity

Boosts neuroplasticity, which promotes the brain’s ability to adapt, heal, and learn new behaviors and patterns.

Stimulates Neural Pathways

Stimulates growth of neural pathways and disrupts thought loops that may contribute to anxiety and depression.

Regulates Emotions

Helps control emotions and creates an anti-anxiety effect helping to alleviate the need to continue to use.

Rapid Antidepressant Effect

Regulates glutamate, a vital neurotransmitter that helps us process thoughts and emotions.

A New You

Ketamine offers new hope for lasting life change for those suffering from mental health conditions.

Increases Neuroplasticity

Boosts neuroplasticity, which promotes the brain’s ability to adapt, heal, and learn new behaviors and patterns.

Regulates Emotions

Helps control emotions and creates an anti-anxiety effect helping to alleviate the need to continue to use.

A New You

Ketamine offers new hope for lasting life change for those suffering from mental health conditions.

Stimulates Neural Pathways

Stimulates growth of neural pathways and disrupts thought loops that may contribute to anxiety and depression.

Rapid Antidepressant Effect

Regulates glutamate, a vital neurotransmitter that helps us process thoughts and emotions.

Are You Ready To Begin Your Journey?

Schedule a free consultation call with our patient care coordinator below. We’re happy to answer any and all questions you may have and are here to be your advocate on your journey to a better you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ketamine therapy is a remarkable new treatment that has a high success rate in treating multiple conditions. Common mental health disorders that can be treated with ketamine therapy include:

    • Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
    • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
    • Bipolar depression (the depressed phase of bipolar disorder)
    • Post-partum depression
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    • Suicidal Thoughts (Suicidal Ideation)
    • Anxiety disorders
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
    • Sexual Abuse Trauma

The efficacy duration of ketamine for depression is a pivotal aspect of its therapeutic profile. While traditional antidepressants may require extended periods to exhibit effects, ketamine has gained acclaim for its rapid action, often bringing relief within hours. However, the longevity of its effects can vary significantly among individuals, owing to diverse physiological responses and metabolic rates. Some experience sustained relief spanning weeks post a single infusion, while others may necessitate recurrent sessions to maintain the benefits. This variability necessitates personalized treatment plans, calibrated meticulously to individual needs and responses, ensuring optimal, enduring alleviation from depressive symptoms, while addressing the unique psychological landscape of each patient.

Yes! Ketamine is considered a World Health Organization (WHO) essential medicine and is one of the most commonly used anesthetics in the world because of its safety. Our Medical Director, Dr. Peck (Anesthesiologist), reviews all intakes and is available to speak with you directly if you have any concerns.  

Check out our Pricing Page for our most up to date pricing.

We started NeuConnections because we wanted to help people and we are committed to keeping our pricing as low as possible to make this life changing therapy accessible. Ketamine treatment is an investment in mental health. Allow this self-care to become an investment in your wellbeing; an investment that grows and pays dividends that last a lifetime.

The first step is an initial consultation with our patient care coordinator to answer any questions and discuss if treatment is right for you.

Visit our Begin Intake page to schedule your free consultation.

Call our office if you have more questions or visit our page with FAQ.

Additional Information

Additional Information

Treatment-Resistant Depression or TRD occurs when a person doesn’t get better after trying at least two antidepressants. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRI’s are the most common medication administered for people with depression and most of these medications take months for a patient to begin to feel the effects, sometimes only to determine the medication is not performing well enough. Ketamine treatments for TRD may be the most remarkable use of ketamine yet. When ketamine is used for TRD it often acts rapidly, typically within a few hours to relieve depression symptoms. Ketamine can be the relief needed after years of the same dosage of the same medications which often only dull the pain, and along with it the happiness that comes with life. 

    • Feeling sad, hopeless, pessimistic
    • Irritability
    • Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
    • Loss of interest in things that used to make you happy
    • Restlessness, trouble sleeping, over or undersleeping
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Loss of appetite or overeating, abnormal gains or losses in weight
    • Thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts

Call our office if you have more questions or visit our page with FAQ.