Ketamine

Ketamine is a medication that blocks the gluconate neurotransmitter receptor in the nervous system, and was originally used as a high dose general anesthetic agent. It was soon discovered that this same medication used at very low doses had a remarkable antidepressant effect. It had a much higher response rate then other antidepressant medications including SSRI’s, Tricyclics, or MAO inhibitors, i.e. up to twice as many patients had relief of depression compared to the standard drugs. In addition, Ketamine had a very rapid response rate, with many patients noting a dramatic elevation in mood and dissipation of depression symptoms within a few hours to a few days, compared to response rates of several weeks with the standard drugs. This may be because the glutamate neurological pathways respond much more rapidly to medications than the serotonin and dopamine neurological pathways which are influenced by standard antidepressants.

Ketamine infusions create a cascade of events in the brain that affects certain neurotransmitter receptors and neurological pathways, and triggers rapid growth of normal neural conditions. This rewiring of the brain is thought to be the basis of the antidepressant effect. In addition, Ketamine is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Since depression has been linked to chronic inflammation, this may also be a part of its antidepressant effect. This may be why some patients achieve long-term relief after just one infusion or one short series of infusions. Others will find that Ketamine infusions enhanced with oral medicines, lifestyle changes and other choices will dramatically reduce depression symptoms.

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Experts aren’t quite sure how Ketamine works, but they do know it works differently than other commonly used antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, or Effexor. In general, Ketamine infusion activates certain neurotransmitter receptors and pathways which trigger rapid growth of new neurological connections. Some researchers believe that prolonged exposure to stress causes certain neurons to die off, resulting in depression, but Ketamine causes them to rapidly re-grow within hours, relieving the depressive symptoms.  Animal studies reveal that Ketamine disconnects many synapses within minutes of infusion, and the affected neurons reattach new synapses over the following few hours or days.

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There are other hints that Ketamine helps improve or inhibit several other mechanisms in the brain as well. Unlike other antidepressants, which work on serotonin or norepinephrine pathways, Ketamine works via the glutamate pathway. Glutamate is one of the most prominent neurotransmitters in the brain and regulates large regions of the nervous system. Overactivation of glutamate receptors may lead to long-term depression, and Ketamine works by blocking these glutamine receptors. Ketamine is also a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Since depression has been linked to chronic inflammation, this may also be part of its antidepressant effect.

Everyone reacts differently to medications of all kinds, so we customize treatments, including frequency and dosage, specifically to your requirements. Research shows that 70% to 80% of patients have experienced significant relief for treatment of depression using Ketamine infusions.

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We know that typical antidepressants work well in only 30% to 40% of patients with depression. Ketamine works over 85% of the time, even for those who have failed typical antidepressant therapy. There is good evidence that Ketamine might work for patients suffering from most other forms of depression, not just those who are treatment resistant.

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Reverie continues to work with leading psychiatrists and medical scientists on developing new formulations and treatment variations of ketamine that are suited to each individual.