Though Ketamine is a legal, FDA-approved substance, it can be difficult to find reliable treatment options. Psychable is dedicated to connecting candidates seeking treatment in the psychedelic-assisted therapy space to those that can help. The online platform has almost 1,000 ketamine-specific practitioners listed, and those interested in treatment can read reviews, communicate with practitioners and book treatments all on Psychable. In the midst of America's psychedelic renaissance, Psychable makes it easier than ever before to find unconventional, impactful treatment options.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine was initially discovered in 1956 and approved in 1970 as an anesthetic agent derived from phencyclidine. While it’s been embraced for its therapeutic potential as a psychedelic medicine, ketamine is technically a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties. It was proven helpful in battlefield settings such as Vietnam, where it was used extensively. Ketamine maintains hemodynamic stability or stable blood flow, which is crucial when treating trauma. It’s listed on the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines, which names medications considered to be most effective and safe while meeting a health system’s most essential needs.

Despite its benefits in the medical field, ketamine is also a popular party drug, ketamine is also a popular party drug. While recreational use comes with risks, [link to How to Find a Ketamine Treatment Center that's Safe, Qualified, and Good] when used therapeutically, and under medical supervision, ketamine offers a plethora of healing potential. Recently, ketamine is making a new reputation for itself as a landmark treatment in mental health conditions.

What Does Ketamine Treat?

Ketamine shows particular promise in the treatment of depression. While the most noted ketamine studies for depression were done off-label using intravenous infusions, in 2019, a nasal spray called Spravato (esketamine) was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ketamine is currently the only FDA-approved psychedelic.

Ketamine also shows potential for the treatment of anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation. Research shows that ketamine has been effective for those who respond poorly to SSRIs and other traditional medications for depression and other mental health conditions.

As the associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Crystal T Clark published research that ketamine works differently than SSRIs. While more research is needed to understand how ketamine works fully, evidence suggests that it exerts complex pharmacological actions, including inhibition of biogenic amine uptake, binding to opioid receptors, and inhibiting the glutamate N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. 

Unlike SSRI medications, which take weeks to build up and take effect, ketamine infusions can work quickly. In a 2019 study, patients with treatment-resistant depression received six infusions over the course of two weeks. There was significant improvement after the first dose, which continued through the month following treatment. Many people receiving ketamine infusions commit to an initial six rounds and then return for boosters as needed, ranging from every week to every two months.

Usually given in a ketamine clinic or medical spa environment, the infusions can last anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour and a half. The dose is determined by weight and reason for treatment, and the sessions are often coupled with psychotherapy and integration work.

Is Ketamine Safe?

The side effects of ketamine depend on several variables, including dosage and method of intake. As a result, it is crucial that you only use ketamine under the supervision of a provider. Side effects of ketamine treatment include feeling out of body dizziness, altered perception, and euphoria. The most common side effect is nausea and vomiting.

As demonstrated by its safety as anesthesia, it is difficult to overdose on ketamine As mobility may be impaired, do not drive after taking ketamine. and stay in a safe space while taking your medicine, ideally with a supervisor. Ketamine can be psychologically habit-forming, as demonstrated by its use as a recreational drug. Overuse of ketamine can result in bladder, urinary tract, and renal damage, which is why it’s crucial to only use the medicine under the supervision of a trained clinician.  While ketamine can offer a solution for many, it is not something to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, as it exists in an off-label grey area, there are too many untrained people running unsafe clinics ready to take in anyone who can afford treatment. One should only try ketamine after talking with their psychiatrist and physician. Treatment centers should have mental health staff on board and perform a careful screening process, patient monitoring, and integration work. It is the psychedelic community’s job to hold ketamine practitioners accountable for acting diligently.

Conclusion

Depression remains a critical concern for mental health professionals. Ketamine can step in where other methods of treatment, such as SSRIs, fall short. This is because it works differently than our current options. Ketamine’s potential rapid-onset antidepressant properties of the glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist are especially valuable for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine should only be used under the supervision of a trained medical professional.