Ketamine is a well-known, fast-acting drug. Ketamine was first created and developed in 1962 but was initially used for veterinary medicine.
Ever since the 1970s, it has been used as a painkiller for humans. In fact, Ketamine is now used to reduce complex regional pain and neuralgic pain which is usually sharp and sudden pain.
Ketamine has many anaesthetic benefits, taking away short-term pain. Unfortunately, there are also a number of side effects associated with taking and abusing ketamine, including hallucinating.
Due to this reason, it has now become a very popular drug for people to abuse, with many people consuming ketamine in a drug or club environment, so that they can experience its hallucinogenic side effects.
However, many psychiatrists are now looking into how ketamine might help you with depression and other mental health issues, such as anxiety.
Scientists first started looking into ketamine to help with depression after noticing that people who suffer from depression often experience some abnormalities in the brain’s glutamatergic system. This is the neurotransmitter in the nervous system.
To understand how ketamine is able to help with depression, it is important to understand what ketamine is and how it works.
Ketamine is an anaesthetic, originally used in animals and veterinary. Most people inject ketamine, and it helps to numb pain quite quickly.
It is known as a dissociative drug, as it helps individuals to feel detached from their pain, whilst also making them feel calm and relaxed. You might also feel less mobile when you take ketamine, and your memory will be reduced [1].
Unfortunately, lots of people across the world get their hands on ketamine illegally, and consume ketamine in nightclubs, bars and raves up and down the country.
People hallucinate a lot when they take ketamine, which changes the way they perceive time, sight and sound. It helps people to feel relaxed and yet not in control.
These ‘trips’ usually only last anything between 30 – 60 mins, instead of a few hours as with other drugs and substances such as LDS [1].
Ketamine kicks in very quickly, and people are able to feel the effects of taking Ketamine within just a few minutes. However, some people have experienced hallucinogen disorders weeks after initially taking ketamine [1].
There are a number of other side effects when it comes to taking ketamine, including depression, feeling agitated, struggling to remember things, feeling confused and feeling anxious [1].
Your heart rate will also increase, as will your blood pressure. You might also experience other physical side effects such as dilated pupils, difficulty in moving your muscles, involuntary eye movements and being overstimulated [1].
Depression is a mental health issue and disorder. When you suffer from depression, it changes the way you handle your day-to-day life, and changes the way you think, feel and act [2].
Unfortunately, it will affect how you are with loved ones, how you handle yourself at work and how you handle things such as money and substance use [2].
In order to be officially diagnosed with depression, you have to present at least two or more of the symptoms of depression for at least two weeks.
There are also a number of different types of depression, which all come with different symptoms and side effects [2].
Individuals are said to suffer from major depression when they suffer from long-term depression that interferes with their work, sleep and even eating habits. They must suffer from this for at least 2 weeks before being diagnosed with major depression.
Persistent depressive disorder is when people suffer from a range of different depression symptoms for a number of years. These symptoms last a lot longer than someone with major depression, and it is incredibly important that people who suffer from persistent depressive disorder seek professional help.
Perinatal depression is different. This type of depression occurs when a woman gives birth and experiences a very traumatic or difficult pregnancy or birth. This could last during the woman’s pregnancy or after giving birth to their baby, which is also known as postpartum depression.
Perinatal depression can make it particularly difficult for women during pregnancy, and postpartum depression can also make it equally as difficult for women in the initial days, weeks and even sometimes months after giving birth to their child.
The seasonal affective disorder is what people experience during the winter months when they do not get enough sunlight. This tends to come and go with the seasons and people usually start to experience this towards the end of autumn and the start of spring.
Seasonal affective disorder (also sometimes commonly referred to as SAD) is a short-term form of depression which usually makes people want to retreat inside and makes them feel less extroverted and more introverted.
Finally, some people experience depression alongside other symptoms of psychosis. This is one of the most severe types of depression and can be particularly scary and hard to recover from.
During this type of depression, individuals will experience a range of symptoms and side effects including hearing voices and hallucinating. Lots of people who abuse certain drugs often experience this which can make it incredibly difficult and confusing to tell what is reality and what is not.
It is important to remember that people who also suffer from bipolar disorder will experience depressive episodes on a frequent basis, where they will experience extreme lows followed by extreme highs.
If you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from depression, then it is important to understand that there are certain signs and symptoms to look out for when you suspect that someone you know and love is suffering from depression.
Some of these signs and symptoms are listed below: [2].
These symptoms might come and go over a long period of time, or you might experience these symptoms intensely for a number of weeks, months or even sometimes years.
If you are experiencing a number of the above symptoms and do not know where to turn, then you should seek help from a professional.
A lot of people who suffer from drug and alcohol addictions also experience depression, which means that they are said to be suffering from a dual diagnosis.
In order to recover from a dual diagnosis, you will have to attend drug and alcohol rehab in order to recover and undergo a mixture of a detox and a range of different therapy techniques.
Lots of people who suffer from depression are legally prescribed ketamine to help with their symptoms. Most antidepressants target neurotransmitters (mainly dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin).
However, ketamine targets a different neurotransmitter in the brain, called glutamate. Glutamine is responsible for how people react and respond to experiences, which is why ketamine has been said to be a lot more effective at treating the symptoms of depression.
In addition to this, by targeting and rebalancing glutamate, ketamine is said to be able to improve your overall mental health and ability to feel happy.
Ketamine has also been said to help treat people with depression who haven’t had much luck when it comes to trying other treatment types, including a range of other antidepressants [3].
However, whilst many professionals acknowledge the fact that ketamine is a great way of treating the symptoms of depression, some other scientists have said that they are concerned about the risks associated with taking ketamine and would need more research before prescribing ketamine to their patients [3].
In fact, a study carried out in 2016 found that ketamine is now classed as a health issue, due to the fact that it creates a lot of hallucinogenic issues, with repercussions for its users.
This is why a lot of doctors are urged to try other antidepressants first, before prescribing or trying their patients on ketamine [4].
It is also important to understand that some people who suffer from depression also suffer from substance use disorders, which means that they also suffer from other issues such as psychosis and anxiety.
Therefore, prescribing ketamine to someone who suffers from depression alongside a substance use disorder might not be a good idea and should be avoided where possible, due to its hallucinogenic properties.
If you think that you or someone you know is suffering from an addiction to ketamine, or think that they are depressed and need to receive ketamine treatment, then speak to the team at Rehab 4 Addiction.
As described above, there are a number of risks associated with taking and abusing ketamine. Of course, every doctor should make a full assessment before they prescribe anyone a drug, especially someone who is already suffering from mental health issues.
Nevertheless, every doctor and every patient should be aware of the following risks associated with taking ketamine:
It is important to remember that ketamine should not be prescribed to anyone who already suffers from high blood pressure, as it could potentially lead to a heart attack, aortic tear or an aneurysm.
You should also not take ketamine if you suffer from other mental health issues such as schizophrenia or psychosis. You should also never be prescribed ketamine if you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.
If you would like to try ketamine to help with the symptoms and side effects of depression, then you should speak to your local doctor or mental health care professional.
It is important to remember that doctors will always try to prescribe you other antidepressants before trying on ketamine, which is guidance that you should follow.
If you are accepted for ketamine treatment, then you will be prescribed a low dose of medication. You could be prescribed other injections or tablets that would dissolve under your tongue.
Alternatively, you could be prescribed nasal sprays, but these are said to be known to be less effective and should be taken alongside oral antidepressants.
If you think that you or someone you know is at risk of getting ill from taking ketamine, then you need to speak to a member of the team at Rehab 4 Addiction for help and support.
Unfortunately, abusing ketamine puts you at risk of overdosing. Everyone has different tolerances for any drug, but it is important to understand that the signs and symptoms are easily recognisable and easy to look out for.
There are a number of signs and symptoms, which are listed below for you:
If you think that you are at risk of overdosing or think that someone else that you know is, then speak to a member of the team at Rehab 4 Addiction.
If you think that you are witnessing an overdose, then you should call an ambulance and stay with them until help arrives.
If you are addicted to taking ketamine, then it is important to seek help and support from professionals.
Ketamine carries a high abuse potential, which means that if you think that you are addicted to ketamine that you seek help as soon as possible so that your addiction does not get any more serious.
Unfortunately, treating an addiction to ketamine can be difficult, which is why you should attend a rehab centre in order to recover.
You must work hard to rid your body of the addictive substance, which means that you will have to undergo a detox. You will then need to receive therapy to help you to overcome the psychological effects of your ketamine addiction.
Ketamine detox is an important part of the recovery process and will involve withdrawing from the addiction process slowly and in stages. Doctors will be monitoring how much you take and when, and slowly but surely your body will be able to overcome its need for the addictive substance.
Ketamine is a mentally addictive drug, which means that you need to undergo therapy in order to recover. This means that they will be encouraged to look at their emotions and triggers, and think about how these might have led to their addiction.
There are a range of different therapy techniques used to treat depression and ketamine addictions, including cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, brief interventions and holistic therapy.
If you are suffering from depression or any other mental health issue, then it is worth getting in touch with Rehab 4 Addiction for help and support.
Our team of specialists are on hand to help people who suffer from substance use disorders and mental health issues get on top of their issues.
They will be able to suggest a range of treatment options for you in your area, including treatment options for your depression or ketamine addiction.
You will most likely stay in drug rehab for at least 28 days, which is usually enough time to detox and then receive a wide range of treatment options.
[1] https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ketamine-2020.pdf
[2] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4714497/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
