Depression

Depression is caused by chemical imbalances in your brain. Chemicals called neurotransmitters send messages through your brain and body. Certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate regulate your mood. When you don’t have enough of these chemicals in your brain or if the neurotransmitters don’t function properly, you can develop depression.

While most antidepressants help your brain produce more serotonin, which eventually stimulates glutamate production and functionality, ketamine stimulates glutamate activity immediately, providing faster and more effective results.

Traditional anti-depressant medications can take weeks to months to show effects, ketamine is fast-acting and you may experience positive results a few hours after your first infusion. Most clients will notice positive results a couple of days after their 3rd infusion. Progress after the first infusion may be subtle, gradual or intermittent over several days. With an effective rate of up to 80%, patients may experience lasting relief after completing six infusions.

Many clients know whether the treatments are a good option for them after the first infusion. In some cases where a client is unsure, we suggest proceeding through the 3rd infusion before a decision to continue or stop treatments, as it can be difficult to notice positive changes after years of living with depression. Ketamine in combination with other interventions such as therapy modalities can experience longer relief.

The chance for a woman to develop depression during her lifetime is about 10-25%. The highest risk occurs during the childbearing years. Pregnancy may be a possible trigger for the development of depression in some women. This may be due to changes in hormone levels during pregnancy and the stress that comes with this major life event.

Ketamine therapy is a great alternative to conventional medications used to treat PPD. Symptoms can be relieved within hours to days instead of weeks to months. As little as 1-2 infusions may be all that is needed for long-term relief. One factor to consider for new mothers is breastfeeding. Ketamine is frequently used during delivery of of the baby. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ketamine is compatible with breastfeeding.

It is possible to start ketamine infusions earlier in your depression treatment journey. For those who do not want to experience the side effects with traditional medications, want to save time by achieving faster results, or endure the cost of years of treatment, ketamine may be an option for you.

When used in a safe, controlled environment under proper supervision, ketamine can provide near-immediate relief from emotional and physical pain, while helping to look deeply into one’s self. With the support of a trained practitioner, these experiences offer an expanded perspective that can help you reframe complex problems and heal from chronic and intractable symptoms.