Ketamine for Depression Treatment

First approved by the FDA as an anesthetic, ketamine has been around since the ’60s. However, it was not until 2006 that that Ketamine for Depression Treatment was introduced. Ketamine has been shown to improve depression in 70-72% of patients.

Why Ketamine?

Unlike other medications that sometimes take weeks or months to do their job, ketamine for depression treatment in Parker works fast, with many patients reporting a difference within several hours of their first infusion. To learn more, be sure and watch the short clip below about how Ketamine Infusion for Depression is giving new hope to those who had lost it.

What Is Depression?

Depression, one of the most commonly diagnosed mood disorders, affects millions of Americans. There are several recognized types of depression, but all impact the way a person thinks and feels about themselves, those around them, and life in general. In many cases, severe depression can lead to a kind of mental and emotional paralysis that negatively impacts how a person eats, sleeps, and works. It may also affect the quality of their personal relationships.

What Are The Different Types Of Depression?

Some Of The Typical Diagnoses Of Depressive Disorders May Include:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Also known as Clinical Depression or Unipolar Depression. MDD is the most common form of depression. It can be just a single episode, but some people may experience it periodically throughout their lives.
Postpartum Depression: A type of depression usually brought on by the hormonal shifts women experience in the months (or year) following childbirth.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Depression caused by a change in the circadian rhythm of the body, usually bringing on depression during a specific season of the year.

Situational Depression: While the symptoms are much like Major Depressive Disorder, this is depression brought on by a specific event, such as the death of a loved one, or a life-threatening event.

Persistent Depression: Also known as dysthymia or chronic depression, this is depression that lasts for two years or more.

Manic Depression/Bipolar Disorder: Characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of intense depression.

What Are The Symptoms of Depression?

Many people are truly depressed only once, while others can experience it daily. More frequent occurrences are as worrisome as a single instance, and there are many symptoms to watch out for:

When you are burdened by the weight of emotions like sadness, tearfulness, emptiness, or hopelessness.
If you experience outbursts of frustration, anger, or irritability caused by trivial problems.
You avoid hobbies, sports, intimacy – things you were once interested in and looked forward to.
Issues with sleeping, including not getting enough hours of rest, or even sleeping too long.
You’re physically tired or lack energy, especially while accomplishing chores of minimal effort.
Eating or weight problems, such as not having an appetite and eating less than normal, or weight gain from binge eating.
Everyday situations, like making dinner or interacting with co-workers, make you restless, agitated, or anxious.
You don’t think as quickly as you used to, or your body moves in slow motion.
Memories of past failure or guilt nag at you and you can’t shake them.
Your decision-making skills are diminished, due to trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, or overall hesitance.
You think of suicide or harming yourself or others.
You wonder why you have sudden headaches or body discomforts.

Are You A Good Candidate for Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

Although it has been used for more than half a century as an anesthetic and pain reliever, ketamine is now proving to be the biggest breakthrough in depression treatment in decades as well. Studies show that up to 72% of patients may find relief from symptoms after undergoing a series of IV ketamine infusions.

If you are interested in learning more about how Ketamine Treatment for Depression can help you, contact Summit Ketamine Innovations today and schedule your free consultation.

Request Your Free Consultation Today

Additional Resources

Murrough, Perez, et al. “Rapid and Longer-Term Antidepressant Effects of Repeated Ketamine Infusions in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression” Biological Psychiatry 2013 Aug 15; 74(4): 250–256.

SUMMARY: In this article, there were 24 patients treated with six IV infusions of ketamine (.5mg/kg) over 12 days. The overall response rate was 71% as defined as a reduction in the MADRS scale by greater than 50%. The median time to relapse after the last ketamine infusion was 18 days. 25% were symptom free at 90 days, 75% of patients had symptoms free days between 11-27 days. Side effects were reported to be a mild significant increase in dissociative symptoms. One patient had to discontinue therapy due to an increase in blood pressure that did not respond to medications (highest BP 180/115).

Shiroma, Johns et al. “Augmentation of response and remission to serial intravenous subanesthetic ketamine in treatment resistant depression” Journal of Affective Disorders. 2014 Feb;155:123-9.

SUMMARY: In this article, there were 14 patients treated with six IV infusions during a 12 day period. 12 subjects finished all six infusions with 92% response rate and 66% went into remission. 5 out of 11 responders remained in “response status” during the next 28 days. For the 6 out of 11 responders that relapsed, the mean time was 16 days. Response was defined as ≥50% improvement in baseline MADRS score and remission was defined as MADRS score ≤9. No subject experienced severe dissociative symptoms or hemodynamic changes that required stopping the infusions.

Sanacora, Frye, McDonald, et al. “A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders” JAMA Psychiatry. April 2017;74(4):399-405.

SUMMARY: This review and consensus statement provides a general overview of the data on the use of ketamine for the treatment of mood disorders and highlights the limitations of the existing knowledge. The suggestions provided are intended to facilitate clinical decision making and encourage an evidence-based approach to using ketamine in the treatment of psychiatric disorders considering the limited information that is currently available. This article provides information on potentially important issues related.

Yoon G, Petrakis IL, Krystal JH. Association of Combined Naltrexone and Ketamine With Depressive Symptoms in a Case series of Patients With Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online January 09, 201976(3):337–338. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3990.

SUMMARY: This article discusses the interaction between ketamine and naltrexone and how it could be used to benefit efforts in addiction recovery medicine. It suggests that ketamine may be a useful adjunct in the effort to treat substance use disorders.

In The Media

Ketamine Isn’t an Opioid and Treats Depression in a Unique Way
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, July 31, 2019
Ketamine has gotten a bad rap as an opioid when there’s plenty of evidence suggesting it isn’t one, Johns Hopkins experts say.

Ketamine May Relieve Depression By Repairing Damaged Brain Circuits
NPR, April 11, 2019
The anesthetic ketamine can relieve depression in hours and keep it at bay for a week or more.

Special K: Ketamine, From Party Drug To Depression Medication
NPR , April 22, 2019
Recently, the FDA approved a new drug based on ketamine to treat treatment-resistant depression.

Ketamine offers lifeline for people with severe depression, suicidal thoughts
CNN, August 4, 2018
Ketamine is a powerful medication used in hospitals primarily as an anesthetic, but recent scientific studies have shown significant promise with treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation.

Lasers Highlight Ketamine’s depression-fighting Secrets
WIRED magazine, April 11, 2019
Researchers implanted prisms in mouse brains to watch how ketamine affects neurons. The findings could lead to more effective antidepressant treatments.

Major Depression