How Ketamine Has Proven Beneficial For Treatment-Resistant Depression

More than 14 million Americans struggle with depression each year, and a significant portion of those who seek treatment don’t improve with typical antidepressant drugs. Unfortunately, failed therapy can increase the risk of developing other health issues, such as substance abuse. 

If your depression hasn’t responded to traditional antidepressants, or if you prefer an alternative to conventional antidepressants, there’s hope. At Ketalink Ketamine Center in Levittown, New York, our providers, offer a breakthrough therapy for treatment-resistant depression and other mood disorders. 

Ketamine infusion therapy can provide rapid relief from symptoms of depression. Whether you’re considering ketamine infusion therapy for yourself or a loved one, it’s wise to get the facts. We’ve put together some helpful information about this unique therapy and how it can relieve depression when traditional antidepressants fail.  

How ketamine alleviates depression

Ketamine isn’t new. In fact, it has been used for years as an anesthetic. However, more recently, medical professionals found that it helped relieve depression symptoms in people suffering from treatment-resistant depression.

What researchers found is that ketamine helps make it easier for mood-regulating chemicals in the brain to communicate. Furthermore, they found that ketamine appears to also improve communication between certain parts of the brain.

Researchers also found that ketamine appears to inhibit signals that cause inflammation. This is important because researchers believe that inflammation is a factor in depression and other mental health disorders.

Benefits of ketamine infusion therapy

By the time patients seek help for depression, they’ve often struggled with symptoms for quite some time and are in desperate need of relief. Furthermore, traditional antidepressants don’t usually work right away. In fact, they usually take several weeks to start alleviating symptoms, which can leave patients struggling to manage their symptoms in the meantime.  

A major advantage of ketamine infusion therapy is that it works quickly. Most patients experience relief from symptoms of depression within a few hours of treatment. This means you’ll be more likely to get relief from the very first infusion session. 

Ketamine infusion therapy has a high response rate. In one study, 85% of patients had a remission of their depressive symptoms. Furthermore, there’s no risk of addiction, because only small doses are used to manage symptoms. 

Who can ketamine therapy help?

While ketamine infusion therapy is helpful for treatment-resistant depression, it can also help patients dealing with:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Postoperative pain management
• Chronic pain management
• Neuropathy
• Anxiety

Because ketamine works rapidly, it can also be beneficial in providing relief from acute suicidal thoughts. 

Depression can steal your joy and make each day feel like an insurmountable challenge. If you’re struggling with symptoms of depression, we invite you to schedule a visit to discuss ketamine infusion therapy. To learn more, call 516-703-4937 or book an appointment online with Ketalink Ketamine Center today.