4 ms·
Ketamine (as its S-isomer) is approved by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression. Note that while the evidence for Ketamine's antidepressant effect is actu
by loves_mangoes 5y ago
Ketamine (as its S-isomer) is approved by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression.
Note that while the evidence for Ketamine's antidepressant effect is actually strong, that does not mean you should get into the habit of snorting a gram of special K a day.
Ketamine abuse is known to cause serious, practical damage to the GI tract, the urinary system, the liver, and the brain.
- andrei_says_ 5y agoThank you for this information. My question was - how does it help? What does it do and why is that helpful?
- Jerrrry 5y agoIf I get my mail today, I will let you know.
- andrei_says_ 5y agoI hope it helps you - but are there any studies on how it works and why? What’s the mechanism of “disassociation” resulting in “getting better”?
- loves_mangoes 5y agoThe honest answer is that we don't know. Experimentally, it works. There are theories (google will give you a couple vaguely plausible mechanisms), but it's too early to say. And it's likely that the antidepressive effect of ketamine has nothing to do with its NMDA antagonism, given that other NMDA receptor antagonists do not work as antidepressives. Neuroscience theory lags far behind applied psychiatry, so all know is people whose depression resists normal treatment now have another very promising option, with a very different mechanism from normal antidepression treatment.
- andrei_says_ 5y agoThank you, this is what I was looking for.
- Jerrrry 5y agoDissociatives are the most under-appreciated class of drugs. Mechanisms of action are difficult to be objective about. It is a lot more complicated than dopamine and serotonin regulation and uptake, receptors and antagonists. Today was pleasant, despite every reason not to be. It's like the "hope" qualia.
- andrei_says_ 5y agoThank you, this is what I was looking for. So - on biochemistry level we don’t know why it works. But somehow, controlled temporary disassociation seems to… interrupt negative ideation? Also TIL “qualia” - what a wonderful word.
- Jerrrry 5y agoYes. Depression originates from the ego. Vitamin K suppresses the ego.
- tsol 5y agoAlthough a ketamine treatment plan for depression requires subanesthetic doses once a week at first, and then once every two weeks. It's also habit forming enough that it's difficult to not overdo it due to its effects on dopamine. It has some definite utility, but it's the kind of medication that is hard to use alone