If you have treatment-resistant depression, your doctor may recommend ketamine as a treatment option.
However, it is important to note that ketamine can have risks, including a potential for misuse.
What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?
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To be clear, this doesn’t mean that depression isn’ttreatable.
It simply says that a person’s symptoms don’t improve with standard treatment methods.
The problem is that they may not provide relief for several weeks.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Another study looked at the effectiveness of oral ketamine.
This one involved 22 patients who had tried at least three differentantidepressant treatmentswith no effect.
Almost one in three (30%) reported that ketamine provided some benefit.
Yet, there are a few concerns that exist with this drug.
Using any drug without a prescription can be harmful if not dangerous to one’s health.
Additionally, the abuse of a Schedule III substance can lead to physical and/or psychological dependence.
One of the most common immediate effects of taking ketamine is feeling strange, weird, or loopy.
This drug also has other effects as well.
It’s also important to consider how you obtain your ketamine.
This is just one area where some ketamine clinics fall short.
Ketamine clinics offer access to this drug in the name of wellness.
It may be particularly effective when used to help people with treatment-resistant depression.
Like all treatments, you should talk to your doctor to determine if this option is right for you.
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