In people who respond to ketamine, it can relieve serious symptoms of depression as well as suicidality (life-threatening thoughts and acts). Additionally, ketamine can be effective in treating depression and anxiety together.
 
Suicidality and depression can be treated with other medications and approaches, but it can take weeks or even months for them to work. The same is true for talk therapy, antidepressants, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
 
After one to three ketamine treatments, people who experience relief from depression are likely to experience positive effects for several more sessions. Rather than achieving a further dramatic improvement in symptoms, the subsequent sessions may help prolong the effects of ketamine.
 
It is not possible to provide standard guidelines on this. Typically, eight treatments are offered initially (acute phase). Afterward, the patient and doctor decide whether to taper or discontinue ketamine treatments or continue them for a longer period of time.
 
The addictive properties of ketamine are similar to those of opioids. The importance of understanding this when weighing risks and benefits cannot be overstated. If you have a history of substance abuse, such as alcohol or drugs, it’s especially important to discuss the possibility of ketamine with your doctor.
 
Under proper medical supervision and guidance, it is common for ketamine treatment to be a safe and effective treatment for depression.
 
As with most treatment options, intranasal ketamine is accompanied by some potential side effects. Some side effects include nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure, dissociation, and perceptual disturbances.

There isn’t a clear understanding of how ketamine works. As ketamine exerts its antidepressant effect through a new mechanism, it may be able to assist people with depression when other treatments have failed.
 
In the brain, ketamine is likely to target NMDA receptors. In the spaces between neurons, ketamine increases glutamate levels by binding to these receptors.
 
As a result, glutamate activates connections in another receptor, the AMPA receptor. By blocking NMDA receptors and activating AMPA receptors simultaneously, other molecules are released that help neurons communicate with each other. This process, called synaptogenesis, influences mood, thoughts, and cognition.
 
There are also other ways in which ketamine may affect depression. For instance, it might reduce inflammation signals, which have been linked to mood disorders or facilitate communication within specific brain areas. Several mechanisms are likely to work together when ketamine is administered, many of which are currently being researched.

The primary use of ketamine therapy is to treat major depression. In more specific terms, it treats depression that is resistant to treatment. Undergoing ketamine therapy may be your next option if you are suffering from major depression that hasn’t responded to two or more antidepressants.
 
Intranasal ketamine is mostly prescribed to people with suicidal thoughts. Although nasal ketamine has only been FDA-approved for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, it is also helpful for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in what is commonly known as a dual diagnosis.
 
Research on intranasal ketamine’s success rate is still in its early stages, but the prospects are very promising. According to one study, 85% of patients were able to recover from depression. In order to qualify for remission, symptoms had to be reduced by 50% or more. For a condition that is notoriously difficult to treat, this is an astounding success rate.
 
Additionally, your medical history will play a part in whether you are a candidate for ketamine treatment. Ketamine treatment can be prescribed by your doctor after taking a detailed look at your condition and needs.
 
Dr. Soroya Bacchus, M.D., at Psychiatry Unplugged uses Intranasal ketamine treatment to cure depression in adults. We are conveniently located at 6801 Park Terrace, Suite 530B Los Angeles CA 90045. For more information, call us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Los Angeles CA, Beverly Hills CA, Santa Monica CA, Encino CA, Pacific Palisades CA, and surrounding areas.