Redefining Ketamine When it Comes to Mental Health.
April 1, 2022
When people think of ketamine, the first few things that come to mind likely have more to do with bad memories from youthful party days, getting high, and horse tranquilizer than healing and mental health, let alone ketamine-assisted therapy.
At NeuroMedici, our hope is that the conversation shifts from only focusing on the downsides of recreational ketamine use to the many benefits it can offer when used as a treatment for patients with certain mental illnesses. Ketamine-assisted therapy is touted as a game-changer for the future of the mental health industry, in addition to other psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Which mental illnesses can be treated with ketamine-assisted therapy?
- Treatment-resistant depression
- PTSD
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Seasonal depression
- Chronic pain
- Chronic migraines
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
What exactly does ketamine-assisted therapy do?
Ketamine targets NMDA receptors in the brain. By binding to these receptors, ketamine appears to increase the amount of a neurotransmitter called glutamate in the spaces between neurons. Glutamate then activates connections in another receptor, called the AMPA receptor. Together, the initial blockade of NMDA receptors and activation of AMPA receptors leads to the release of other molecules that help neurons communicate with each other along new pathways. Known as synaptogenesis, this process likely affects mood, thought patterns, and cognition.
Research overwhelmingly backs ketamine-assisted therapy.
We get it, this usage of ketamine is a new concept for many people. Perhaps that’s why some feel very apprehensive about it. But it’s important to remember that ketamine-assisted therapy is not new – decades of research have been done, and medical usage of ketamine in humans has occurred since the 1960s.
Studies from the world’s leading institutions time and again prove what those of us in the medical and mental health industries know to be true – not only does ketamine-assisted therapy work, but it is also an effective treatment method. Patients, even those with treatment-resistant illnesses, have reported experiencing changes in their mood, outlook, and wellbeing after beginning treatment.
The point that we want to make is – that ketamine-assisted therapy is both proven to work and safe!
Read more about it:
Want to check out the evidence for yourself? Here are some links to research that has been done & articles about ketamine-assisted therapy:
