Emerging research suggests that ketamine can be used to treat alcohol, cocaine, or opioid use disorder, per a systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychiatry in 2018. Ketamine treatment has been found to improve cravings, enhance one’s motivation to quit, Controlled Drinking vs Abstinence Addiction Recovery and lessen withdrawal symptoms, according to researchers. Right now, however, more research is needed to look at larger sample sizes and demographics of people, more controlled studies, and lengthier follow-up to assess the long-term effects of ketamine on substance use issues. Another review in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology in March 2023 came to similar conclusions.
- Ketamine bladder syndrome happens when people chronically use too much ketamine, Krystal and Stewart say.
- Long-term ketamine use has been linked to bladder dysfunction and memory loss.
- This is compared to traditional antidepressants, which only work as long as they are in your system.
- If you have certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart-related problems, or certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, ketamine may not be safe for you.
Inducing general anesthesia
That said, research on the benefits of ketamine for depression remains relatively new. Experts emphasize the need to continue exploring its long-term safety and effectiveness. This nonprofit group focuses on the safe clinical use of ketamine for mental health disorders and pain conditions. The most useful resource for the public is their directory to help you locate a ketamine physician in your area. It’s important to note that there is increased risk of lower urinary tract symptoms with esketamine.
General Health
Off-label means using the drugs to treat conditions the FDA has not approved. One wonders if ketamine would be better controlled in a hospital setting, where there are protocols for safety in case anything goes wrong. Independent, outpatient ketamine clinics are popping up all over the place. It is estimated that there are currently hundreds to thousands of these clinics — almost all of which were established in 2019 when ketamine was approved for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine is an unusual type of psychedelic drug — called a dissociative — that has surged in popularity. It reliably produces pain control, forgetfulness, intoxication, disassociation, and euphoria, effects that underlie its medical and recreational uses.
May Be Useful in Anxiety Disorders
The initial IV dose of Ketalar ranges from 1 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight to 4.5 mg per kg of body weight. The initial dose for anesthesia induction is administered over several minutes. Ketamine has also been used for treatment of refractory status epilepticus. This is a dangerous type of seizure that requires emergency treatment with anti-seizure medication.
Ketamine infusion therapy has been hailed as a transformative treatment because of its high rate of response. The new neural pathways—think of them as new roads in your brain—allow you to create more positive thoughts and, therefore, behaviors. This is compared to traditional antidepressants, which only work as long as they are in your system. Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments. In contrast, no recreational use of the drug is safe, as it can cause addiction and adverse health effects that can lead to death. People who use it claim that a ketamine trip is superior to a PCP or LSD trip because it produces shorter-term hallucinations that last 30 minutes to an hour instead of several hours.
According to the medical examiner, Perry, who had been undergoing “ketamine infusion therapy” for depression, had levels of the drug in his body in the range used for general anesthesia during surgery. We’ve covered the major neurobiological aspects of how ketamine works, so we can now introduce some hypothetical psychological ways ketamine may also help with suffering. At certain doses, ketamine can result in a mystical or spiritual experience. One may experience oneness with the universe, or feel they are a part of something greater. Others may experience increased feelings of love and compassion towards oneself and others.
While experts have yet to determine glutamate’s exact role in depression symptoms, they do know it plays a key role in mood regulation. Low levels of glutamate in your brain may lead to depression symptoms. These approaches don’t always relieve severe depression symptoms, including thoughts of suicide — and that’s where ketamine could make a difference. The National Institutes of Health is increasingly devoting resources and attention to psychedelic medicine.
Below, get the details on the potential benefits and risks of trying ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, plus guidance on getting a prescription from a qualified mental health professional. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of an esketamine nasal spray called Spravato for treatment-resistant depression. Esketamine is a more potent form of ketamine, so doctors can prescribe it at lower doses that have a similar effect. He graduated with a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions.
Some patients report feelings of well-being and coming to terms with existential anxiety. There is some debate whether this kind of experience may augment or be correlated to an antidepressant response. As a physician, I am able to witness firsthand the healing power of these types of experiences that may occur.