What Is Ketamine?
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But our understanding of ketamine is changing quickly, and it's showing promise as a drug to treat severe or treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine affects the parts of the brain that are responsible for emotions, memory, and movement. It works by blocking certain neuron receptors. It seems to switch on dormant neurons while quieting other, more active ones.
Scientists are working to understand how these effects actually help combat depression. When the drug is abused, overused, or taken long term, it can permanently change the brain and even lead to other mental disorders. So scientists want to find a way to tweak ketamine therapy so it treats depression without damaging side effects.
It's important to know that ketamine is not approved by the FDA for depression, but its cousin, esketamine, is. It can be used off label but should only be administered by a professional.
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Ketamine was developed as an anesthetic for surgery in the 1960s. It was appealing to doctors because it was thought to have minimal side effects when used as an anesthetic. It can also cause feelings of dissociation, which is why it became a widespread party drug in the '90s. But our understanding of ketamine is changing quickly, and it's showing promise as a drug to treat severe or treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine affects the parts of the brain that are responsible for emotions, memory, and movement. It works by blocking certain neuron receptors. It seems to switch on dormant neurons while quieting other, more active ones.
Scientists are working to understand how these effects actually help combat depression. When the drug is abused, overused, or taken long term, it can permanently change the brain and even lead to other mental disorders. So scientists want to find a way to tweak ketamine therapy so it treats depression without damaging side effects.
It's important to know that ketamine is not approved by the FDA for depression, but its cousin, esketamine, is. It can be used off label but should only be administered by a professional.
