The Truth About Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Mood Disorders
Many advocates of ketamine infusion therapy believe the antidepressant effect is due to a psychedelic therapeutic experience that leaves the individual with a greater sense of self and a greater understand of the world in which they live. It sounds wonderful, right? Magical even. On the other hand, there are those who are critical of the process and believe that patients are just “high” and that is why they feel better. While I could not be more of an advocate for ketamine infusion therapy, some clarification is necessary. I want to assure you that there is no magic involved, and if getting high is your goal, there are much cheaper, easier ways to get a buzz.
According to Yale, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, and many other Departments of Psychiatry around the nation, ketamine infusion therapy is the gold standard in the treatment of mood disorders. It is able to boast the highest rate of remission of depressive symptoms compared to any other antidepressant therapy available. Let’s discuss why.
The History of Ketamine
A brief history of ketamine hydrochloride is the best place to start. It was created in the 1960’s in response to the need for a safer anesthetic. Unlike other anesthetics that can affect vital functions like heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, ketamine hydrochloride was specifically designed to support these functions. With a wide margin of safety, it is one of the safest anesthetics available. This makes it ideal for use in pediatrics, lengthy orthopedic or abdominal surgeries, and even veterinary medicine, where higher doses can be administered without compromising vital functions.
Ketamine hydrochloride is a non-opioid, non-narcotic medication used in surgery as a dissociative anesthetic and analgesic. It has repeatedly shown to help patients recover faster with fewer side effects than those who use opioid pain management in the post-operative period. It is currently used in every operating room in the world and is listed among the World Health Organization (WHO) top 100 essential medications. The stigma surrounding ketamine as a “street drug” originated from its accessibility before 1999. Its frequent theft and abuse led the DEA to classify ketamine as a Class 3 non-narcotic.
The Emergence of Ketamine Research
In the late 90s, the psychiatric community began researching the benefits of NMDA glutamate receptor antagonism and the neuro-regenerative proteins the brain releases when these receptors are blocked. The Yale Department of Psychiatry conducted a large-scale study on several NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist drugs and found that patients who received low doses of these medications over specific periods demonstrated improved cognitive function and relief from depressive symptoms.
Ketamine’s Superior Effectiveness
Among the drugs tested, intravenous ketamine hydrochloride was found to be far superior in stimulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein essential for neuro-regeneration. In 2011, Yale presented its findings. Ketamine hydrochloride administered intravenously has shown to have the greatest success with treatment-resistant mood disorder patients in comparison to all other treatment options.
Adoption and Challenges
It was not long before psychiatric clinics across the country began to offer ketamine infusion therapy to their patients who had not responded to traditional antidepressant therapy. However, they quickly encountered challenges, learning something that every anesthesia provider already knew: ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic. Without minimizing stimulation and properly preparing the patient, it can cause distressing effects. Some clinics abandoned the practice, while others embraced the psychedelic experience, framing it as a spiritual journey. However, this approach was rejected by the broader medical community, and ketamine therapy nearly disappeared.
The Evolution of Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Several clinics have continued to offer ketamine infusion therapy since its early days. Some stayed committed to best practices based on scientific research from institutions like Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford, while others embraced the “mind-expanding” nature of the dissociative experience, viewing it as the source of the antidepressant effect.
Anesthesia providers soon recognized the need for their expertise in optimizing ketamine infusion therapy. Working alongside psychiatric colleagues, they helped create a more comfortable and therapeutic treatment experience. This collaboration brought ketamine infusion therapy into the mainstream.
Ketamine Therapy vs. Psychedelic Alternatives
Those who cling to the idea that this style of therapy is purely a psychedelic journey into the subconscious have led the charge into other psychedelics such as MDMA (ecstasy), psilocybin (magic mushrooms), or other hallucinogens thinking that they might also work. Turns out that these also have an antidepressant effect like that seen with ketamine infusion therapy. As research continues on hallucinogens, we learn that they stimulate the neuro-regenerative process much like ketamine hydrochloride, but to a lesser extent.
Understanding the Brain’s Response to Ketamine and Hallucinogens
The brain is the control center of our existence, and it must maintain balance in our bodies. Turns out anesthetics like ketamine and hallucinogens such as MDMA or psilocybin disrupt this balance, prompting the brain to react. In response, the brain releases protective proteins, with BDNF and GSK3B being the most prominent. These proteins are initially neuro-protective, providing patients with immediate relief from depressive symptoms and even eliminating suicidal ideation.
When the patient sleeps, and over the next several days after administration, the protein stimulates a process called neurogenesis, or the growth of new neuronal synapses. This process enhances communication between brain cells, resulting in improved clarity of thought. The ability to think clearly helps prevent patients from becoming easily overwhelmed, which leads to improved functionality in daily activities.
Neuro-Optimization for Long-Term Relief
This neuro-optimization aids the brain in recovering and healing from the traumas and stressors that contribute to depression and anxiety disorders. With continued therapy and support, patients experience long-term relief and even remission of depressive symptoms, particularly when working alongside a therapist who helps guide the recovery process.
The Safety and Effectiveness of Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Ketamine infusion therapy is incredibly safe. Unlike hallucinogens, dissociative anesthetics do not cause hallucinations – no pink elephants are present during the process. Administered via infusion, ketamine offers significantly more control for the provider, allowing us to optimize the experience for the patient. In contrast, hallucinogens require patients to simply “ride it out” until the effects subside.
Ketamine infusion therapy also carries fewer risks than hallucinogens, such as the absence of allergen risks. Furthermore, it is administered by a board-certified anesthesia provider, and all medications used are FDA-approved, ensuring a safe and controlled environment for treatment.
The True Source of Relief
As research continues, we better understand that it is the ketamine treatment, and not the experience, that provides the lasting antidepressant effect. The best part about how ketamine infusion therapy works is that it does not rely on a psychedelic or spiritual journey to find relief. When a bone is broken, we do not force the bone to heal or say that a person is weak because their bone is not healing as fast as others. We utilize the treatment to create an optimal environment for the body to do what it is designed to do.
Everyone’s journey to mental health is different. Ketamine infusion therapy remains one of the best options for regaining clarity of thought and optimizing neuronal signaling, which are two of the keys to getting the most out of other therapeutic interventions such as psychotherapy.
About Scenic City Neurotherapy
Founded in 2019, Scenic City Neurotherapy is at the forefront of advanced and comprehensive treatments for those facing treatment-resistant conditions. Our goal is to excel in opioid free pain management and mental health treatment, setting a standard of care that results in better outcomes and improved brain health. We specialize in Minimally Stimulated Ketamine Infusion Therapy (MSKIT®) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy.
If you’re seeking innovative solutions for mental health, chronic pain, or neurodegenerative conditions, Scenic City Neurotherapy offers transformative treatment options. Join us in advancing brain optimization and empowering individuals to reclaim their lives.
Contact Charles Miller, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, to learn more about our Minimally Stimulated Ketamine Infusion Therapy (MSKIT®) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) protocols. Call 423-228-0579 or visit www.ScenicCityNeuro.com.
