Depression is a mental health condition that can impact all aspects of a person’s life. It is calculated that depression affects more than 300 million people worldwide, making it one of the most common mental disorders.
While many different treatment options are available for depression, ketamine is an effective and safe treatment option for those who do not respond to traditional therapies. This blog post will discuss the five benefits of choosing ketamine treatment for depression.
1. It Is an Effective Treatment Option for Those Who Do Not Respond to Traditional Therapies
Ketamine is a rapidly acting antidepressant that has shown to be effective in treating those who do not respond to other therapies, such as SSRIs.
SSRI is the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant. While traditional antidepressants can take weeks or even months to work, this has provided relief within hours or days.
Here’s how it works:
Your body releases a neurotransmitter called glutamate in response to stress. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, which means it causes your neurons to become more active.
It works by blocking the NMDA receptor, preventing glutamate from binding to it. As a result, it results in a decrease in neuron activity and allows you to feel calmer.
2. It Is a Safe Treatment Option
Compared to other treatment options for depression, ketamine has a good safety profile. In addition, it is typically well-tolerated by patients, with few side effects.
It is also a non-addictive option for treating depression. It is an important consideration, as many other antidepressants can be addictive and lead to dependence.
For example, other treatment options like SSRIs can cause patients to feel agitated, anxious, or have trouble sleeping – which is the opposite of what we want for people struggling with depression.
Ketamine, on the other hand, often leads to patients feeling more relaxed and at ease.
3. Helps With Severe Depression
Severe depression can be debilitating. It can make it hard to get out of bed, work, or even take care of yourself.
It is effective in treating severe depression. In one study, it was more effective than electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in treating people with severe depression who had not responded to other treatments.
It can help to improve the quality of life for people with severe depression.
For example, one study found that it effectively reduced suicidal ideation in people with treatment-resistant depression. If you consider this to treat your depression, it is important to speak to a qualified medical professional.
4. It Has Lower Side-effects
Compared to other treatments for depression, ketamine has relatively lower side effects. The most common side effects are dizziness and nausea, which usually go away within a few hours.
Other potential side effects include headache, sleepiness, increased blood pressure, and anxiety. However, these side effects are generally mild and well-tolerated.
It is also one of the few treatments for depression that does not risk sexual side effects, which is a common issue with other antidepressant medications.
5. It Offers Long-term Relief
It provides relief from depression in the short term, but it can also offer long-term benefits. For example, ketamine treatment effectively reduces depressive symptoms for six weeks after treatment. It is a significant finding because most traditional antidepressants take several weeks or months to work.
Conclusion
When choosing a treatment for depression, ketamine should be at the top of your list. With its unique ability to target the root cause of depression and its wide range of benefits, no other treatment can compare.
