How Could Local Ketamine Treatments Help You?
The above video provides valuable insights into the workings and specifics of local ketamine treatments.
To begin, Dr. Dom Sportelli outlines what sets ketamine apart and its mechanism of action.
Unlike SSRIs that primarily influence neurotransmitters like serotonin, ketamine operates on the NMDA receptor, affecting glutamate, a different neurotransmitter system in the brain. This unique action pathway might explain its rapid and profound antidepressant effects observed in some studies, often within hours or days, compared to the delayed response of traditional antidepressants.
The discourse sheds light on the challenges individuals face when conventional antidepressants, such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), don’t yield positive results. In cases where multiple attempts with these medications prove ineffective, termed treatment-resistant depression, ketamine emerges as a potential breakthrough.
Despite its promising therapeutic role, ketamine has faced a stigma due to its history of misuse as a recreational drug. However, Sportelli emphasizes its established use in legitimate medical practices, where it’s administered by healthcare professionals for pain management, sedation, and anesthesia, highlighting its safety and control application in these settings.
Sportelli then highlights ketamine’s potential in reshaping the approach to treating severe depression, offering hope for individuals who haven’t responded to conventional therapies, while also aiming to challenge the stigma associated with its historical misuse.
