Intravenous ketamine infusions may be the answer for many people suffering from depression who have not responded well to antidepressant medication and other treatments. A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders reveals ketamine infusion treatments can produce an antidepressant effect in individuals who have major depression or bipolar disorder. This is new research that shows the relationship between ketamine’s dissociative effects on those who have treatment-resistant depression.
Up until recently, people suffering from depression have had to resort to prescription antidepressants that often take weeks to work — and do not always produce desired results — or alternative treatments that may or may not alleviate depressive symptoms. Ketamine, a drug that has been used as an anesthetic in the medical field for decades, and also an abused recreational drug, is showing promise for those suffering from depression and bipolar disorder. Now, people suffering from depression or bipolar disorder can undergo IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy to alleviate symptoms quickly.
The Link Between Ketamine and Depression
Scientific American recently reported on the latest research that reveals how ketamine actually works on the brain and why it can relieve depression quickly. The authors suggest ketamine works by blocking neural bursts in a part of the brain that drives depression. Not only does ketamine have antidepressant effects, but it works in as little as 30 minutes and can even help those who are otherwise treatment-resistant.
The latest studies uncover the workings of the small central brain region called the LHb. This is the part of the brain that connects to the areas of the limbic system that processes emotion and links to reward centers. When the LHb is overactive, it can contribute to depression.
Researchers injected ketamine into depression-prone lab rats to monitor the effects and found that the ketamine infusion blocks NMDA receptors, rapidly producing an antidepressant effect. Studying the LHb could provide more insights on how to treat depression and how the antidepressant mechanism actually works in human patients.
IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Depression
Clinical trials and more extensive research studies for the link between antidepressant effects and ketamine are underway. However, IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy for managing depression symptoms is are available and could be a viable treatment option. Ketamine Therapy is easy to administer and most patients undergoing treatment for depression with ketamine notice significant positive effects within hours and days of treatment.
Read more at www.psychiatryadvisor.com
