Mental Health
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine has been used since the 1960s primarily as an anesthetic. Ketamine is known as a non-competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist, and its mode of action is completely different from commonly used medications for depression, anxiety, and pain. The antidepressant mechanisms for ketamine are being studied and appear to involve targets other than NMDAR antagonism such as the interaction of calcium and sodium channels, noradrenergic and serotonergic reuptake inhibitors, cholinergic and glutamate transmission, mTOR dependent synapse formations as well as opioid-like effects. When administered, ketamine triggers a cascading sequence of events in the brain, interacting with glutamate, which is associated with the brain’s plasticity, causing changes in neurons that modulate various types of mental illness.
How We Prescribe Ketamine
Depression and anxiety are known to severely impact the quality of life and put patients at risk for suicidal ideation. The standard treatments for depression often take several months to work, at times requiring a trial of multiple agents, and frequently leaving patients under-treated. Unfortunately, many patients do not have the time nor proper providers to monitor the efficacy of these treatment options. Our focus is to help patients identify the right therapist and with the assistance of ketamine and psychotherapy, work through different emotional hurdles for a healthier mental outcome.