Specifically, it is used to treat the depression pole of bipolar.
Ketamine is being lauded as a treatment for depression as it can improve mood quicklyoften within hours.
How Does Ketamine for Bipolar Treatment Work?
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Ketamine exists in two different formschemicallyr-ketamine and s-ketamine.
They areenantiomers, meaning they have the same chemical formula but are mirror images of one another.
Ketamine is thought to be so effective because it works on so many different systems in the brain.
One of the biggest systems it works on is the glutamate system.
Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that helpsneuronscommunicate.
In fact, it is present in upwards of 90% of all synapses in the brain.
When someone has been dealing with chronic stress or chronic depression the glutamate system can be dysregulated.
Learning, memory andneuroplasticityprocesses all depend on the activities of the NMDA receptors.
It then stimulates the growth of synapses, which help neurons in the brain connect with each other.
How Effective Is Ketamine for Bipolar Disorder Treatment?
One of the most powerful arguments for using ketamine for bipolar treatment is its rapid response.
People with bipolar disorder face a rate of 20 times more than the general population for death by suicide.
Because of these statistics, finding an effective treatment that works rapidly is key.
It is generally administered two to three times a week for a few weeks.
In fact, ketamine treatment has even been found to help some dealing with certain substance use issues.
Temporary side effects may include nausea, mild sedation and/or dizziness.
Also, it may interact with certain other medications.
Jelen LA, Young AH, Stone JM.Ketamine: A tale of two enantiomers.
Int J Bipolar Disord.
2022;8(1):e19.
