What is ketamine, and why all the hype?

Photo by Guzaliia Filimonova via iStock

There’s been a lot of buzz lately around the benefits of ketamine for mental health. And as we continue to hear about the impact of mental health on our society and how current treatments aren’t very effective,  it makes sense that we’d look for other options.  

But there is a lot of hesitation about using psychedelics, like ketamine, for treatment. Many of which stem from old perceptions of what psychedelics are and how they affect us. Ketamine has been used in veterinary medicine and as a party drug for its relaxing dissociative properties (the feeling of being disconnected from your body). But, like a lot of things, they can be used for so much more than that. 

Research has expanded on ketamine, and recent studies have shown its potential to reduce symptoms of different mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar, and PTSD. This could be a game changer in how we treat mental health and give hope to those struggling with its symptoms.

So, what is ketamine exactly?

Ketamine is a clear liquid drug that acts as an anesthetic and painkiller. Historically, it was mainly used for veterinary medicine and surgery, but recent research has shown clinical benefits in humans. Many people think of horse tranquilizers when they hear ketamine.  However, in the 1960s, it was introduced in humans to reduce pain and produce a dissociative state during medical procedures. Patients would seem awake by being able to swallow, cough, sneeze, and breathe normally but didn’t respond to sensory input, like smell, sound, or physical touch. It was a feeling of detachment from their body and the environment that proved effective and safe to use.

These dissociative characteristics are also what gave it a reputation as a party drug in the club scene, producing hallucinogenic effects like vivid dreams, blurred vision, floating sensation, and out-of-body feelings. These mind-altering effects have been a main attraction since the 1970s, along with other psychedelics that were popular during that time. 

Changing of the times 

Despite the hesitation of using psychedelics for therapy, more and more is being learned about the therapeutic benefits of ketamine. It has shown clinical benefits, including pain management and improving treatment-resistant depression. Research has exploded over the decade exploring the many aspects of ketamine, from how it acts in the body to how it can change pathways and influence brain chemistry to reduce mental health symptoms.

For example, recent research shows that ketamine affects the brain’s glutamate system, the main communication system between brain cells. It promotes more connections and pathways between brain cells, making the brain more flexible and able to adapt to changes. This supports patients with depression by giving their brains the opportunity to develop positive thoughts and behaviors. 

It also works by blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors - a key receptor for managing mood, cognition, and pain perception. By blocking NMDA, ketamine acts to quickly improve mood and emotional states, particularly depression. Research suggests that ketamine’s antidepressive properties can be seen as quickly as a few hours after treatment and have long-lasting effects, especially in those who haven’t responded to other antidepressant treatments.

These findings created so much interest that in early 2019, esketamine, a form of ketamine, was approved by the FDA as an antidepressant treatment, a huge step forward in addressing the mental health crisis.

Where ketamine therapy comes into play

While the interest in ketamine is exciting, it still needs to be used with caution. High doses of ketamine can be risky, so working with a ketamine therapist can reduce the risks and enhance the benefits.

Ketamine treatment usually takes 1 to 3 sessions. During a session, you’ll be given a small dose of ketamine in a controlled setting under clinician supervision combined with integration counseling. This means you’ll work with a therapist who asks questions to encourage you to process your experience. While it may sound like a regular therapy session, ketamine’s dissociative properties allow you to process challenging experiences.

The goal is to achieve longer-lasting results with fewer treatments.

While we continue to learn about and explore the benefits of ketamine, it shows great promise in revolutionizing mental health treatment. Embracing different and unconventional approaches is crucial to finding effective solutions for those who suffer. By challenging stigma and adapting to new information and possibilities, we can unlock the full potential of treatment.