Ketamine is a medication originally developed as a human and veterinary anesthetic. Unlike other anesthetics, it does not depress breathing or blood pressure, though unpleasant side effects, including hallucinations and confusion, may occur. Due to its low cost, it remains widely used in medical procedures around the world. It is also found on the street, known as Special K, and is listed as a Schedule III drug, with moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.
Can ketamine be used for depression?
The drug has also gained popularity in recent years as a fast-acting antidepressant medication . Unlike other antidepressants , which can take weeks or months to work, patients who take ketamine often see improvements within just a few hours. Ketamine also appears to sharply decrease thoughts of suicide . But the effects are short-lived, and the long-term outcomes of regular ketamine treatment are unknown. And research from Yale University found that ketamine improved symptoms significantly in teens who suffer treatment-resistant depression
Can ketamine be used for anxiety?
A small study that appeared in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that subjects who suffered anxiety responded positively to weekly doses of ketamine over a three-month period. The patients improved in their function in both social and professional areas of life. Ketamine may also be effective for people with PTSD and or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Can ketamine be used for alcoholism?
Studies have looked into ketamine’s effect on depressed people who have a family history of alcoholism . In research that appeared in the American Journal of Psychiatry , people with problem drinking were administered ketamine along with motivational enhancement therapy , compared with a control group, the ketamine plus therapy group drank less and did not relapse as much.
Can ketamine be used for PTSD?
A study that appeared in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that repeated doses of ketamine can help reduce the symptoms of people who suffer from PTSD . Over a two-week period, patients received six infusions of ketamine. Further research must be done to assess ketamine’s efficacy over longer periods of time.
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