With depression now becoming an epidemic in our society, we are in need of a faster-acting antidepressant that has longer lasting results. The suicide hotlines are ringing off the hook, but thankfully Ketamine is coming closer to approval for the treatment of depression.
History of Ketamine
Ketamine was first created in 1962 and received FDA approval for treatment in humans in 1970. This drug was first utilized as an analgesic and sedative by doctors in the Army during the Vietnam war. Today it is most commonly used by veterinarians as an anesthetic. Even Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, according to recent research, may be helped with Ketamine.
The Cornerstone of Ketamine and the Brain
Depression causes damage to the nerves and pathways in the brain. Ketamine can help restructure and restore a steady flow within the brain. What is even more fascinating is that the amount of time it takes to do this is faster than any other antidepressant on the market. This medicine is especially helpful when dealing with patients that have a resistance to their current medication, referred to as treatment-resistant depression. Some patients may have to try various antidepressants before finding one that works, and by that time, the damage done to the nerves and pathways in the brain have increased, not to mention, that patient is getting worse.
New Age for Depression Relief
There are many drugs available to treat depression, but it seems none of them work, or they have adverse side effects. Ketamine will be the first of its kind in 35 years and is known for its rapid-fire response. Depression symptoms may occur suddenly in some people, and they will need a fast-acting medicine.
Administration of Ketamine
Currently, the treatment of Ketamine is through injection which may take up to 45 minutes per session. The newest research is for a nasal formulation that Jansesen Pharmaceuticals have been formulating. The results of the clinical trial revealed that the formula is well-tolerated and linked with long-lasting improvements in symptoms of major depression, as well as treatment-resistant depression.
Major depressive disorders affect nearly 300 million people across the world. The dawn of a new age for treating depression is finally here.
