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While the idea of ketamine therapy for depression came about more recently, ketamine itself was first introduced into clinical practice more than 50 years ago.1 Ketamine is not a new or “experimental” drug in any respect, and it has been used safely in humans for decades.
Initially, ketamine was used as a surgical anesthetic. As clinical use continued and research progressed, scientists discovered ketamine has unique pharmacological properties that make it very useful in treating other conditions.
Of course, progress in healthcare often moves slowly and deliberately, so it has taken time for findings in the laboratory to begin making a difference in real people’s lives. Ketamine therapy for depression and other conditions has been under research for a little over 20 years now and has helped thousands of people.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication. As of now, only the ketamine derivative esketamine, has been officially FDA-approved as a treatment for psychiatric conditions.
Ketamine therapy for anxiety, depression, and other conditions with forms other than esketamine is what is known as an “off-label use”.
Off-label use simply means that an FDA-approved medication is being used for a condition that the FDA has not yet specifically evaluated it for with wide-scale studies.
Off-label use of medications is common. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) of 160 commonly prescribed medications, 21% were prescribed for off-label use.2
Key highlights about the safety of ketamine:
Researchers studying ketamine in the late 1970s were the first to notice that subanesthetic doses of ketamine reduced anxiety and depression in laboratory animals. Equally important, they noted that these lower doses also did not cause addiction.3
Over many years of careful research, we learned more about the way ketamine works in the brain. One of the most promising qualities of ketamine for depression is that it affects the brain in ways traditional antidepressants don’t. This fact has at least two profound advantages over conventional depression treatments.
One is that ketamine works rapidly, providing substantial symptom relief for most people with depression within 24 hours or less. Another is that ketamine has proven to be effective in treating people with treatment-resistant depression who could not achieve symptom relief with multiple antidepressants.
Over 70% of the people with treatment-resistant depression in one study found relief with ketamine.4
Facts about ketamine therapy:
Ketamine therapy is an exciting and uniquely promising area of medicine in many ways. One of these is the fact that it can provide meaningful symptom relief for a wide range of conditions.
Ketamine has proven to be a powerful therapeutic tool for PTSD and trauma disorders, especially in concert with psychotherapy. It has also been shown to relieve migraine headaches along with chronic pain and pain from fibromyalgia.
Ketamine therapy is an attractive option for many people because it is fast-acting, usually providing some symptom relief within less than 24 hours. Many of our clients tell us they also appreciate that they can get relief without adding another pill to their daily regimen.
Ketamine therapy has been used to successfully relieve the symptoms of:
If you have depression, anxiety, PTSD, or one of the other conditions listed above, ketamine therapy could be part of your solution. Particularly if you have treatment-resistant depression or if you are looking for rapid relief, rather than waiting 3 weeks or more to see if another conventional antidepressant will work for you.
Like any other medication, ketamine may have side effects and there are some risks associated with its use. It’s important to understand the potential side effects and risks in making your decision.
One important thing to remember is that the dose of ketamine used in a therapeutic environment is much lower than what would be used in a surgical anesthesia setting. Most side effects can be reduced proactively during treatment.
As safe as ketamine is as an anesthetic, it is reasonable to conclude it may be even safer at lower doses. Initial research also suggests that the risk of dependence is very low at therapeutic doses and intervals. That said, if you have a history of unusual reactions to anesthesia, or any medication allergies, talk to your healthcare provider before proceeding with ketamine therapy.
We recommend providing a complete and relevant medical history for your consultation. This will ensure that Quest Ketamine Therapies can review your records and help you make the most informed decision possible.
Ketamine is most effective for mental health disorder relief when combined with psychotherapy (talk therapy, e.g. CBT, DBT) and other elements as part of an overall treatment plan. Take all the help you can get, there’s no such thing as “too much” help.
Ketamine infusions do not interfere with most medications. If you currently take psychiatric medication, there is a good chance you can continue it. Be sure to tell Quest Ketamine Therapies about any medications you take before beginning ketamine.
From chronic, neuropathic pain, to severe depression — people with a broad range of concerns are finding lasting relief with ketamine therapy. The simplest way to find out if ketamine therapy is right for you is to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Quest Ketamine Therapies.
We can conduct the consultation over the phone at your convenience. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you discover whether or not ketamine is part of your solution.
Please call us at (425) 654-5433 for more infomation. You may also send an email , or send us a text message.
Please leave your name, contact information, and the best time to reach you.
To have our medical director call you for up to 15 minutes of Q&A to discuss whether ketamine treatment is right for you.
If you want to contact us directly email us at info@questketamineclinics.com, call us at (425) 654-5433 or text us at (206) 589-5958. Please leave your name, contact information, and the best time(s) to reach you, and we will get back to you then.
