Ketamine Treatment for Depression
Alternativ Total Wellness offers Ketamine treatment for depression right here in South Jersey. Have you struggled with depression and you’ve exhausted all other methods available without any positive results to show for it? Ketamine has shown in studies the ability to alleviate depression in a matter of hours as opposed to the traditional antidepressants that take weeks, even months to work. Patients who are considered treatment-resistant to multiple other antidepressant medications are also seeing resolve of their depressive symptoms.
What is Depression?
Several research trials have shown depression to be caused by many factors including medical conditions, stress, substance use, brain chemistry and poor nutrition. Generally, we can categorize the causes into three main areas: body factors, genetics and lifestyle.
Depression is more than just feeling down for a short period of time or a result of certain events. It can be a debilitating condition that affects your ability to function daily.
Treatment by physicians usually includes a wide variety of medications meant to treat depression. Often these medications do not always completely manage the symptoms.
Ketamine is a medication that is showing promise in relieving depression, so individuals can function productively in daily life.
Signs & Symptoms of Depression
Depending on the person affected, symptoms of depression appear differently. Your family history, personality and type of depressive disorder play a key role in helping to identify the signs and symptoms of your mental health disorder.
Here are categories of the common symptoms of depression:
Cognitive Symptoms
- Problem focusing on basic tasks
- Difficulty making decisions
- Distractibility
- Slowed responses
- Uncontrolled thoughts
Physical Symptoms
- Appetite changes
- Restlessness or fatigue
- Weight loss or gain
- Insomnia or oversleeping
Behavioral Symptoms
- Irritability or tantrums
- Jittery behavior
- A significant drop in school or work performance
- Low interest in social activities
How Ketamine is Thought to Work in the Brain
The exact mechanism of how ketamine relieves depression is not well understood at the current time. Most medications that treat depression work by changing the amount of serotonin, a neurotransmitter chemical in the brain.
Researchers believe ketamine works different method of action, inhibiting the uptake of glutamate, a different brain chemical.
This effect has a more immediate effect on brain chemistry and mood, which can be critical for individuals who are suicidal or self-harming. It may also affect the brain in other ways that are yet to be analyzed.
Ketamine for Depression in South Jersey
For treatment resistant depression, ketamine is administered as an intravenous infusion. Research has found that it can be a very effective method for treatment-resistant forms of depression. A nasal form of the drug has recently been approved by the FDA but is being found to be less effective and more difficult to dose appropriately than the intravenous route.
Individuals undergoing ketamine treatment may feel dissociated from their bodies or may have changes in perception of colors, noises and time, but these are transitory and quickly fade.
The drug has not been shown to have significant potential for addiction, however tolerance can occur with abuse.
The low doses used in the treatment of depression in a medical setting are generally not a problem.
Treatment of depression can often be a matter of trial and error in finding the right medication to help each individual patient. The delays in effectiveness of current medications can make this a difficult and sometimes dangerous process for the patient.
If you have experienced long-standing depression that does not respond to common types of medicine for depression, the expert team at Alternativ Total Wellness is here to help you find relief. Contact us today for a consultation.
