Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a common, potentially devastating mental health disorder. People with depression become increasingly sad and despairing, unable to feel happiness or see life’s positives. Sleep issues, appetite changes, and random aches and pains are common depression symptoms.

While depression is typically mild at first, it can worsen to the point where it takes over your life. You may be unable to work or study, struggle to maintain close relationships, and become overwhelmed with negative emotions like self-loathing.

Without treatment, depression can lead to self-harm, substance use disorders like alcohol addiction, and suicidal thoughts.

What treatments help with depression?

Talk therapy is often effective for mild to moderate depression. Techniques vary, so some examine the possible triggers for your low mood, like losing a loved one or trauma from your past; others focus on helping you cope with depression’s effects on daily life.

Patients with moderate to severe depression usually require medication in addition to talk therapy. Antidepressants help to rebalance your neurotransmitter (brain chemical) levels, which are often low in people with depression.

There are many kinds of antidepressants, and it can take time to feel their effects. It’s common to find the initial treatment doesn’t work, meaning you must try an alternative antidepressant. 

If you’ve tried several antidepressants and undergone talk therapy without success, you might have treatment-resistant depression.

Can ketamine help with my treatment-resistant depression?

Ketamine is often highly effective for treatment-resistant depression. It comes in two forms:

Ketamine infusions

Infusions deliver ketamine into your bloodstream via a needle in your arm. The fluid drips slowly into your vein while your provider monitors you.

Spravato

Spravato is an FDA-approved nasal spray containing a ketamine-based product called esketamine. Instead of an infusion, you receive Spravato spray into your nasal passages. 

You must attend Ketalink Ketamine Center for treatment at the intervals recommended so we can monitor you afterward.

Ketamine affects your brain differently from oral antidepressants like tricyclics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Ketamine acts on a neurotransmitter (brain chemical), glutamate, that affects the brain’s mood center.

One of ketamine’s significant benefits is it works quickly and may begin reducing depression symptoms in as little as an hour. Another is that the effects are long-lasting. After your initial treatments, you might only need ketamine a few times a year to maintain the improvement.

Call Ketalink Ketamine Center today or book online to see if ketamine can help you overcome depression.