Severe depression and anxiety are among the most common and debilitating mental disorders that affect the health and quality of life of millions of people around the world. They are characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, fear, worry, stress, and inability to enjoy daily activities. They may lead to problems in sleep, appetite, concentration, memory, social relationships, and work performance. They may also increase the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. They may even result in suicide attempts or death.
The psychological and pharmacological treatment aims to improve the condition of people with severe depression and anxiety. But unfortunately, some patients may not respond to conventional treatments or suffer from undesirable side effects. For this reason, researchers are looking for new, effective, and safe treatments for these conditions. Among these treatments, ketamine therapy stands out, which is a drug used in anesthesia and pain relief, but has shown promising results in treating severe depression and anxiety. In this article, we will review what ketamine is and how it works, and what are its benefits and risks in treating severe depression and anxiety.
▪What is ketamine and how does it work?
Ketamine is a drug that is used in anesthesia and pain relief, but has shown promising results in treating severe depression and anxiety. It is considered one of the fast-acting antidepressants, as it can improve mood and reduce suicidal thoughts within hours or days of taking it.
Ketamine works by affecting the glutamate receptors in the brain, which are chemical messengers that transmit signals between nerve cells. It is believed that ketamine helps to enhance the growth of nerve cells and form new connections between them, which leads to improved mental and emotional functions.
▪What are the benefits of ketamine therapy?
Ketamine therapy offers many benefits for people with severe depression and anxiety, such as:
- High effectiveness: Researchers say that ketamine can improve mood for about 70% of patients who did not respond to conventional treatments. ³
- Fast speed: Researchers say that ketamine can start working within hours or days of taking it, while conventional treatments need weeks or months to show their effect.
- Long duration: Researchers say that ketamine can maintain its effect for up to two months after a single dose, while conventional treatments need continuous intake to maintain their effect.
▪What are the risks of ketamine therapy?
Ketamine therapy is not without risks and side effects, such as:
- Acute side effects: Ketamine may cause temporary side effects during or after taking it, such as nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, dizziness, headache, and feeling detached from the body or reality.
- Addiction and tolerance: Ketamine may cause addiction or tolerance when taken frequently or excessively, which leads to the need for higher doses to get the same effect, or withdrawal when stopping taking it.
- Long-term side effects: Ketamine may cause long-term side effects when taken frequently or excessively, such as liver, kidney, urinary tract, memory, thinking, and mood damage.
▪Conclusion
Ketamine therapy is a new and innovative treatment for people with severe depression and anxiety, and it offers great benefits in improving mood and preventing suicide. But ketamine therapy is not a substitute for conventional treatments, and it should be taken under the supervision of a specialized medical professional, with specific doses and periods, and with awareness of the potential risks and side effects. Ketamine therapy should be combined with psychotherapy and positive changes in lifestyle.
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