A New Horizon for Depression
Since the 1970's, Ketamine has been safely and effectively used in healthcare, predominantly in anesthesia and emergency practice. In the early 2000s, research started in earnest, utilizing ketamine to treat depression that did not respond to anti-depressants and to diminish the effects of PTSD.
Depression is more than just feeling sad, it is an intangible grey blanket of gloom that covers everything in daily life. It is inescapable and often leaves people feeling like they are being suffocated. Humans who have suffered chronically with depression for a long period of time can struggle to climb out of that dark emotional pit because the brain has gotten comfortable and brains don't like change. If you suffer from a major depressive disorder, you’ve probably tried multiple medications and treatments. Managing and treating depression poses significant challenges. for both the sufferer and the medical community. Physiological imbalances, learned behaviors, coping mechanisms, and the frequency and severity of episodes all influence the successful treatment of depression.
When the depression has been chronic over years, applying an anti-depressant can help initially and then feel like it stopped working. Medications don't stop working, instead they have done all the work they are able and the brain has not made it back to neutral. We talk about long term depression brains as heavy brains. Covered in layers of depression concrete, they are too heavy for an SSRI to lift back to baseline. Sometimes, increasing the dose or trying a stronger medication can help but for some humans, nothing seems to allow them to get to baseline again. It’s not simply that other treatments can be ineffective or even fail. What is a “normal life” to others, may be difficult for you. This leads to a feeling of unending chronic suffering instead of a life worth living.
Why is Ketamine Different?
Ongoing studies continue to show ketamine’s effectiveness in this treatment.
Ketamine is not a cure. However, it is a significant breakthrough in caring for patients with depressive disorders. For patients with treatment-resistant depression, ketamine therapy is showing remarkable promise. Traditional antidepressants can take weeks to become effective. Rather than patients feeling happy, they simply feel “less terrible”.
The dull, flat feeling that results when an antidepressant is only able to do half of the job can leave humans struggling to find a reason to get out of bed. Ketamine is different.
- Ketamine starts to work quickly - during the treatment itself. It can provide relief in a short period of time.
- Symptoms are reduced by as much as 80% in some patients.
- The positive effects can last for up to 6 weeks and additional positive effects can extend to 3 months or more.
- Ketamine does not simply treat the symptoms but is shown to allow the brain to create new neural pathways, healing itself over time.
- Ketamine is not a replacement for anti-depressants, particularly for brains that have been down with depression for a long time.
- Ketamine is an adjunctive therapy, not a stand alone treatment for depression
Ketamine therapy can treat:
Major Depressive Disorder
Chronic Dysthymia
Situational Grief
How Does Ketamine Therapy for Depression Work
Currently, there are three modes of treatment that have enough research to be considered evidence-based care: Intravenous (IV) infusion therapy, Intramuscular or oral Lozenge dosing and Intranasal (Esketamine) dosing. IV infusion therapy was the first type of ketamine therapy to be researched and is still considered to be the most effective.
Remembering that there is a Gut-brain Axis for neurotransmitter production, some humans find Lozenges problematic with GI tracts that are already struggling. We encourage everyone to do their own reading and exploration of their options.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 15 million Americans have regular feelings of depression.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Major Depressive Episode. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 10-30% of people with depression can exhibit signs of being “treatment-resistant”.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Treatment-resistant depression. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml#part_145408.
In the United States, depression is the leading cause of disability for individuals between the ages of 15-44.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2018). Depression. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml
- Understanding the Basics:
- Medications and Mechanisms: Every medication works through a specific process in the body, known as its mechanism of action. This is the sequence of steps a drug follows to produce its effects.
- How Ketamine Acts:
- Blocking Receptors: Ketamine primarily works by blocking certain receptors in the brain called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors.
- Boosting Glutamate: By blocking these receptors, ketamine increases the activity of a neurotransmitter called glutamate, which plays a key role in regulating mood and emotions.
- Effects on Mood:
- Improving Neurotransmitter Levels: Apart from glutamate, ketamine may also boost other important mood-related neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, helping to lift mood and reduce symptoms of depression.
- Additional Benefits:
- Anti-inflammatory and Neuroprotective: Ketamine has anti-inflammatory effects, which can protect brain cells and possibly increase brain flexibility (neuroplasticity).
- Reducing Stress Hormones: It may also help lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol, further improving mood and reducing anxiety.
- Triggering Brain Adaptability:
- Enhancing Neuroplasticity: One of the most significant effects of ketamine is its ability to trigger neuroplasticity—the brain’s capacity to adapt and change.
- Growing New Neurons: Ketamine encourages the growth of new brain cells (neurons) and the formation of connections between them.
- Establishing New Patterns: This increased connectivity in the brain can lead to the antidepressant effects seen with ketamine therapy. Moreover, it creates opportunities to develop new habits and thought patterns that can alter perceptions of depression.
Treatment Options for Depression at Modern Mindwork
- Infusion Therapy Only: Our standard ketamine infusion therapy tailored to address your symptoms.
- Coaching Plus Infusion: Ketamine infusion therapy combined with personalized lifestyle coaching to help manage depression and improve overall well-being.
- Therapy Plus Infusion: Ketamine infusion therapy accompanied by professional mental health counseling to address the underlying issues contributing to your depression.
Contact Us Today
Modern Mindwork offers individualized, safe and effective ketamine therapy. We provide personalized care and support, empowering you to regain control over your life and achieve lasting well-being through the transformative benefits of ketamine infusion therapy and psychedelic therapies.
Take the first step towards healing today.