Anxiety and Depression

If someone suffers from extended periods of anxiety, sleeplessness, agitation, or forgetfulness, they may be experiencing the first signs of depression. Depression and major depressive disorder may result from a combination of social and technological advancements. If left untreated, depression can have potentially devastating consequences such as an increased risk of heart disease, substance abuse, and other mental disorders. Nearly 20 million Americans suffer from depression every year, including men, women, and children. Treatment leading to recovery is available through medication, psychotherapy, and options like ketamine infusion therapy.

Ketamine Treatment for Mental Health

According to Harvard Medical School: “The drug ketamine is a promising treatment for many people with major depression. When administered as IV infusion patients may experience rapid symptom relief. Because it works quickly, it could be an important tool in helping people who are suicidal.” The drug was originally used as an anesthetic but has evolved into a treatment therapy for mental health disorders and their symptoms, like sadness, agitation, irritability.

How Does Ketamine Therapy for Depression Treatment Work?

Medical professionals often prescribe medication(s) to target imbalances in brain chemicals (serotonin and dopamine) but results vary by patient and it can take weeks to months to find a solution for each individual.

While antidepressants are used to balance chemicals, Ketamine can provide immediate impact by changing the way brain cells communicate. Ketamine affects receptors in the brain and targets glutamate, the brain’s most common excitatory chemical messenger. Glutamate strengthens the connections in your brain, playing a key role in how you learn, remember, and respond to experiences. It also helps to produce and balance GABA which is a neurotransmitter that produces a calming effect in the body.

When administered via infusion therapy, ketamine is known to work quickly, within one or two sessions – far quicker than other kinds of medications such as antidepressants.

In 2019, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved a ketamine-derived drug called SPRAVATO®, esketamine, the first time a new drug had been to treat depression in decades. In this case, it is dispensed as a nasal spray and offers similar therapeutic benefits in fighting depression as IV ketamine infusion. Infusion Therapeutix is a certified SPRAVATO® treatment center.

SPRAVATO®, Treatments are coordinated with treating and referring mental health providers.