fbpx

Although Ketamine has primarily been used as a general anesthetic for medical procedures, recent research studies support the use of Ketamine for the treatment of depression.

Ketamine therapy is one of the fastest-growing treatments for depression…and for good reason. Since its rise in popularity beginning in the late 1990s, ketamine therapy has proven effective for up to 70% of patients—a major improvement over the 40-50% efficacy rate of traditional antidepressant medications. Furthermore, where antidepressants require 4-6 weeks of use before a patient will know whether they are effective, ketamine works immediately. Some patients experience relief within hours of their first infusion, but most will know whether the infusions are effective after their second or third dose.

Due to the unarguable—and truly miraculous—results of ketamine for depression, ketamine research has been underway for decades. Study after study continues to support the drug’s efficacy for a wide variety of psychiatric disorders, including treatment-resistant depression (TRD), major depressive disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and more. But in case you had any doubts about the ability of ketamine therapy to alleviate the symptoms of depression…

Does Ketamine Therapy Work?

Studies supporting the use of ketamine for depression treatment were recently evaluated by researchers at the University of Exeter (UK) and the University of British Columbia. This team of researchers analyzed 83 separate ketamine research studies, confirming that ketamine therapy can provide fast-acting, short-term relief from depression and, to some degree, thoughts of suicide and other affective disorders.

The strongest effect documented in the ketamine research is that of intravenous (IV) ketamine therapy for the treatment of unipolar depression. One session of IV ketamine therapy reduced the severity of the depression after only 1-24 hours after the time of treatment—with long-lasting effects! The benefits of the session were noticeable for 1-2 weeks after treatment. For bipolar depression, the effects were noticeable as soon as 4 hours after and, at the longest, within 24 hours. The full effect of the ketamine therapy lasted three days, with some benefits still present after seven days.

Is Ketamine Safe?

Like with many useful drugs, ketamine therapy should not be administered without the supervision of qualified clinical professionals. In a clinical environment, ketamine therapy is very safe.

People receiving ketamine for depression are monitored closely during their treatment. They are given preparation and psychological support during and after the ketamine therapy session, minimizing any adverse psychological reactions.

At Ketamine Greater Boston, we have been providing ketamine therapy to patients in the greater Boston area for years, and have administered thousands of infusions. We are experts in ketamine administration and would love to answer your questions about ketamine therapy and help determine if it could work for you or a loved one.

 

ketamine for depression

Contact Ketamine Greater Boston

If you have already tried talk therapy, antidepressants, or other depression treatments, but nothing has worked, then ketamine infusions could be an effective solution for you. If you have questions, or want to learn more about how ketamine infusions alleviate depression—quickly—in up to 70% of patients, contact Ketamine Greater Boston using the brief form below.