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Takeaway
Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that has gained attention for its potential to treat symptoms of depression, including in people with bipolar disorder.
Clinical-grade ketamine may help improve treatment-resistant bipolar depression. But ketamine’s effects on bipolar disorder vary, and it is not yet a first-line treatment.
Using unprescribed ketamine — including for recreational use — can be unsafe. If you’re considering ketamine as a treatment for bipolar disorder, it’s important to work with a qualified healthcare professional. What does the research say?
Most research on ketamine for bipolar disorder focuses on its potential for treating bipolar depression rather than manic or mixed episodes.According to a 2021 research review , some studies suggest that ketamine works by targeting glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to work, ketamine may provide relief within hours.A 2022 article concluded that ketamine could be an effective treatment for bipolar-related depression by affecting the brain’s biochemistry, enhancing the effects of talk therapy, and supporting psychological and spiritual exploration.Additionally, another 2021 review found that even a single dose of ketamine can reduce suicidal ideation in people with major depression or bipolar disorder .A 2023 review found that ketamine could be a helpful adjunct treatment — in other words, it can be used along with conventional psychiatric medication — to treat acute cases of bipolar depression.Another 2023 review reported that ketamine infusions led to significant improvements in depressive symptoms in people with bipolar disorder, with some participants experiencing relief for up to 14 days.The same review concluded that ketamine might reduce suicidality in people with bipolar disorder, although the authors noted that this needs to be studied further.This research is promising. However, researchers are still exploring the long-term effects of ketamine on bipolar disorder, as well as its impact on mania, mixed episodes, and overall mood stability. What are the potential benefits of use? According to the studies mentioned above, ketamine is effective for treating bipolar disorder for several reasons.The potential benefits include: fast depression relief improved talk […]
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