RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Contributor / Getty Images Ketamine is an injectable anesthetic (a medicine that puts people to sleep during surgical procedures).1 Ketamine is related to the recreational drug phencyclidine (PCP).2

Studies have found that low doses of ketamine can quickly reverse symptoms of depression.1 But so far, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved it for depression or any other mental health condition.3 Ketamine Treatment for Depression

Ketamine is taken off-label (meaning the FDA does not approve it) for depression that hasn’t responded to traditional antidepressants.4 This type of depression is known as treatment-resistant depression (TRD) . About 30% of people with depression experience TRD.5 How ketamine works for depression: We don’t know precisely how ketamine helps treat depression . We do know that it affects several different signal pathways in the body that are associated with depression.1 At low doses, ketamine primarily blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor .6 Research suggests that NMDA receptors in the brain are overactive in depression.7 If taken at higher doses, ketamine also affects opioid and dopamine receptors.6 See the table below for more details, keeping in mind that research is ongoing.

Types of ketamine treatment: There are different ways ketamine can be administered for depression. Ketamine infusions can be injected intravenously (IV) for depression two or three times a week in a hospital or outpatient setting like a ketamine clinic.5 Mail-order ketamine products like capsules,8 tablets, and lozenges9 are also gaining popularity. Taking ketamine by mouth is not as effective as having it infused.10 And though self-administering ketamine can be tempting, keep in mind that without appropriate monitoring by a healthcare provider, ketamine can be dangerous. It carries legal and health risks.8 Be aware that Spravato (esketamine) is a similar medicine that the FDA has approved as a nasal spray for TRD.11 It is not exactly the same as ketamine.

What to expect during treatment: A ketamine infusion typically lasts about 40 minutes. During the treatment and for at least an hour afterward, you’ll be monitored for side effects like high blood pressure, […]

The Surprising Role of Ketamine in Combatting Depression: A Pharmacist’s Insight