mild depression
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What do you think of using Ketamine for depression?
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Featured Answer
6 UpVoted this answer
I am new to this website: DoctorBase, however, I truly appreciate the diversity of answers from my colleagues.
They remind me of a story I was told by an elder while I was visiting the Navajo in Monument Valley, Utah.
There was a Shaman holding a class for all the children of the village. He asked them what they thought the Great Mystery was. One child said the Great Mystery was like a bear; strong, intelligent and powerful. Another child said the Great Mystery was like a running stream; giving life to all that it touches. One by one each child gave a different description of God or the Great Mystery until one child asked the Shaman who was right. The Shaman said, "You all are."
Naturopaths know all disease has a cause and that if you ever want a cure, you must address the cause. There are a litany of contributing factors that will cause depression. The concept of dualistic separation from the Great Mystery or God is one of them. Diet, lack of exercise, calcification of the pineal gland, hormonal imbalance, even unhealthy teeth can contribute to depression. The key is to find a competent medical detective to search for the cause and NOT be satisfied with merely treatment the affects. There are specific pathogens that secrete chemicals that will contribute to depression, fungus is top of the list. This means a simple fungal infection can be the underlining factor in ones depression. Remember, cravings for sugar, alcohol, having a short temper, confusion, irritability and lack of confidence can all be signs, signals and symptoms of a fungal infection. Don't settled on masking the symptoms by taking Ketamine or any other drug. Robin Williams and others are proof that medications are NOT the answer.
They remind me of a story I was told by an elder while I was visiting the Navajo in Monument Valley, Utah.
There was a Shaman holding a class for all the children of the village. He asked them what they thought the Great Mystery was. One child said the Great Mystery was like a bear; strong, intelligent and powerful. Another child said the Great Mystery was like a running stream; giving life to all that it touches. One by one each child gave a different description of God or the Great Mystery until one child asked the Shaman who was right. The Shaman said, "You all are."
Naturopaths know all disease has a cause and that if you ever want a cure, you must address the cause. There are a litany of contributing factors that will cause depression. The concept of dualistic separation from the Great Mystery or God is one of them. Diet, lack of exercise, calcification of the pineal gland, hormonal imbalance, even unhealthy teeth can contribute to depression. The key is to find a competent medical detective to search for the cause and NOT be satisfied with merely treatment the affects. There are specific pathogens that secrete chemicals that will contribute to depression, fungus is top of the list. This means a simple fungal infection can be the underlining factor in ones depression. Remember, cravings for sugar, alcohol, having a short temper, confusion, irritability and lack of confidence can all be signs, signals and symptoms of a fungal infection. Don't settled on masking the symptoms by taking Ketamine or any other drug. Robin Williams and others are proof that medications are NOT the answer.
3 UpVoted this answer
I am sending along an article written by a reputable local psychologist on ketamine and its use with depression. I hope this is helpful.
Sarah E Wood, Ph.D
The National Institute of Mental Health issued the following news release:
Rapid Agent Restores Pleasure-seeking Ahead of Other Antidepressant Action
A drug being studied as a fast-acting mood-lifter restored
pleasure-seeking behavior independent of - and ahead of - its other
antidepressant effects, in a National Institutes of Health trial.
Within 40 minutes after a single infusion of ketamine, treatment-resistant
depressed bipolar disorder patients experienced a reversal of a key
symptom - loss of interest in pleasurable activities - which lasted up to
14 days.
Brain scans traced the agent's action to boosted activity in areas at the
front and deep in the right hemisphere of the brain.
"Our findings help to deconstruct what has traditionally been lumped
together as depression," explained Carlos Zarate, M.D., of the NIH's
National Institute of Mental Health.
"We break out a component that responds uniquely to a treatment that works
through different brain systems than conventional antidepressants - and
link that response to different circuitry than other depression symptoms."
This approach is consistent with the NIMH's Research Domain Criteria
project, which calls for the study of functions - such as the ability to
seek out and experience rewards - and their related brain systems that may
identify subgroups of patients in one or multiple disorder categories.
Zarate and colleagues reported on their findings Oct. 14, 2014 in the
journal Translational Psychiatry.
Although it's considered one of two cardinal symptoms of both depression
and bipolar disorder, effective treatments have been lacking for loss of
the ability to look forward to pleasurable activities, or anhedonia.
Long used as an anesthetic and sometimes club drug , ketamine and its
mechanism-of-action have lately been the focus of research into a
potential new class of rapid-acting antidepressants that can lift mood
within hours instead of weeks.
Based on their previous studies, NIMH researchers expected ketamine's
therapeutic action against anhedonia would be traceable - like that for
other depression symptoms - to effects on a mid-brain area linked to
reward-seeking and that it would follow a similar pattern and time course.
To find out, the researchers infused the drug or a placebo into 36
patients in the depressive phase of bipolar disorder.
They then detected any resultant mood changes using rating scales for
anhedonia and depression.
By isolating scores on anhedonia items from scores on other depression
symptom items, the researchers discovered that ketamine was triggering a
strong anti-anhedonia effect sooner - and independent of - the other
effects.
Levels of anhedonia plummeted within 40 minutes in patients who received
ketamine, compared with those who received placebo - and the effect was
still detectable in some patients two weeks later.
Other depressive symptoms improved within 2 hours.
The anti-anhedonic effect remained significant even in the absence of
other antidepressant effects, suggesting a unique role for the drug.
Next, the researchers scanned a subset of the ketamine-infused patients,
using positron emission tomography (PET), which shows what parts of the
brain are active by tracing the destinations of radioactively-tagged
glucose - the brain's fuel.
The scans showed that ketamine jump-started activity not in the middle
brain area they had expected, but rather in the dorsal (upper) anterior
cingulate cortex, near the front middle of the brain and putamen, deep in
the right hemisphere.
Boosted activity in these areas may reflect increased motivation towards
or ability to anticipate pleasurable experiences, according to the
researchers.
Depressed patients typically experience problems imagining positive,
rewarding experiences - which would be consistent with impaired
functioning of this dorsal anterior cingulate cortex circuitry, they said.
However, confirmation of these imaging findings must await results of a
similar NIMH ketamine trial nearing completion in patients with unipolar
major depression.
Other evidence suggests that ketamine's action in this circuitry is
mediated by its effects on the brain's major excitatory neurotransmitter,
glutamate, and downstream effects on a key reward-related chemical
messenger, dopamine.
The findings add to mounting evidence in support of the antidepressant
efficacy of targeting this neurochemical pathway.
Ongoing research is exploring, for example, potentially more practical
delivery methods for ketamine and related experimental antidepressants,
such as a nasal spray .
However, Ketamine is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
as a treatment for depression. It is mostly used in veterinary practice,
and abuse can lead to hallucinations, delirium and amnesia.
Ken Pope, Ph.D.
Sarah E Wood, Ph.D
The National Institute of Mental Health issued the following news release:
Rapid Agent Restores Pleasure-seeking Ahead of Other Antidepressant Action
A drug being studied as a fast-acting mood-lifter restored
pleasure-seeking behavior independent of - and ahead of - its other
antidepressant effects, in a National Institutes of Health trial.
Within 40 minutes after a single infusion of ketamine, treatment-resistant
depressed bipolar disorder patients experienced a reversal of a key
symptom - loss of interest in pleasurable activities - which lasted up to
14 days.
Brain scans traced the agent's action to boosted activity in areas at the
front and deep in the right hemisphere of the brain.
"Our findings help to deconstruct what has traditionally been lumped
together as depression," explained Carlos Zarate, M.D., of the NIH's
National Institute of Mental Health.
"We break out a component that responds uniquely to a treatment that works
through different brain systems than conventional antidepressants - and
link that response to different circuitry than other depression symptoms."
This approach is consistent with the NIMH's Research Domain Criteria
project, which calls for the study of functions - such as the ability to
seek out and experience rewards - and their related brain systems that may
identify subgroups of patients in one or multiple disorder categories.
Zarate and colleagues reported on their findings Oct. 14, 2014 in the
journal Translational Psychiatry.
Although it's considered one of two cardinal symptoms of both depression
and bipolar disorder, effective treatments have been lacking for loss of
the ability to look forward to pleasurable activities, or anhedonia.
Long used as an anesthetic and sometimes club drug , ketamine and its
mechanism-of-action have lately been the focus of research into a
potential new class of rapid-acting antidepressants that can lift mood
within hours instead of weeks.
Based on their previous studies, NIMH researchers expected ketamine's
therapeutic action against anhedonia would be traceable - like that for
other depression symptoms - to effects on a mid-brain area linked to
reward-seeking and that it would follow a similar pattern and time course.
To find out, the researchers infused the drug or a placebo into 36
patients in the depressive phase of bipolar disorder.
They then detected any resultant mood changes using rating scales for
anhedonia and depression.
By isolating scores on anhedonia items from scores on other depression
symptom items, the researchers discovered that ketamine was triggering a
strong anti-anhedonia effect sooner - and independent of - the other
effects.
Levels of anhedonia plummeted within 40 minutes in patients who received
ketamine, compared with those who received placebo - and the effect was
still detectable in some patients two weeks later.
Other depressive symptoms improved within 2 hours.
The anti-anhedonic effect remained significant even in the absence of
other antidepressant effects, suggesting a unique role for the drug.
Next, the researchers scanned a subset of the ketamine-infused patients,
using positron emission tomography (PET), which shows what parts of the
brain are active by tracing the destinations of radioactively-tagged
glucose - the brain's fuel.
The scans showed that ketamine jump-started activity not in the middle
brain area they had expected, but rather in the dorsal (upper) anterior
cingulate cortex, near the front middle of the brain and putamen, deep in
the right hemisphere.
Boosted activity in these areas may reflect increased motivation towards
or ability to anticipate pleasurable experiences, according to the
researchers.
Depressed patients typically experience problems imagining positive,
rewarding experiences - which would be consistent with impaired
functioning of this dorsal anterior cingulate cortex circuitry, they said.
However, confirmation of these imaging findings must await results of a
similar NIMH ketamine trial nearing completion in patients with unipolar
major depression.
Other evidence suggests that ketamine's action in this circuitry is
mediated by its effects on the brain's major excitatory neurotransmitter,
glutamate, and downstream effects on a key reward-related chemical
messenger, dopamine.
The findings add to mounting evidence in support of the antidepressant
efficacy of targeting this neurochemical pathway.
Ongoing research is exploring, for example, potentially more practical
delivery methods for ketamine and related experimental antidepressants,
such as a nasal spray .
However, Ketamine is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
as a treatment for depression. It is mostly used in veterinary practice,
and abuse can lead to hallucinations, delirium and amnesia.
Ken Pope, Ph.D.
2 UpVoted this answer
Ketamine- no way, very dangerous. You need to get down to the root cause of your depression through Functional Medicine testing and Talk therapy with a therapist. Depressive symptoms could be related to your digestion where we make over 90% of our Serotonin. If there is gut inflammation, dysbiosis, and intestinal hyper-permeability, there will be increase serotonin turnover and an increased need for certain amino acids. Functional testing will get to root cause by looking at the biochemistry and physiology of the body. Once the root cause is identified, then treatment is simple. No guessing.
1 UpVoted this answer
A safe alternative is AD-C fromwww.naturessunshine.ca or .com
It is inexpensive and has historically worked well for many people.
Helping Herbs and Wellness 419728
It is inexpensive and has historically worked well for many people.
Helping Herbs and Wellness 419728
1 UpVoted this answer
Ketamine is a type of Psychedelic Anesthetic Recreational Drug - its chemical structure is similar to that of Phencyclidine (PCP or Angel Dust).
Ketamine is (rarely) used as a Pharmaceutical Anesthetic.
Ketamine may cause Euphoria in many users and may cause Hallucinations.
By activating PCP Receptors located within the body's N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptors, Ketamine may interfere (block) the normal function of the body's NMDA Receptors (this mechanism is the underlying process by which Ketamine attains its biochemical effects within the body). When PCP Receptors are activated, they antagonize the actions of Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid and N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, preventing the normal activation of NMDA Receptors - substances that activate PCP Receptors "plug" the Ion Channel of the NMDA Receptor, preventing Calcium Ion influx.
Ketamine may cause long-lasting Psychosis that has required hospitalization in some users...
Depression cannot be addressed by just medical drugs (Rx) alone. Depression should be addressed through a combination of psycho-therapy, dietary recommendations, exercize, spirituality and cultural community involvements and meditation(such as Yoga)...
They to effective treatment of depression is to determine the underlying cause of the depression. That can vary from person to person. No physician should use the same Rx for all patients to treat depression. Depression triggered by breaking up a relationship or loosing a loved one should not be treated in the same manner as depression triggered by a food Allergy or dietary issues or that is triggered from a persons physical circumstance(such as being injured and no longer being able to play your favorite game or do something you love doing)... All of these are different underlying causes and must be addressed according to its specific circumstances... Trying to treat these three with the same method is not going to produce effective results in some, while it may work perfect with others.... Psychotherapy would not be an effective first line of treatment for a food Allergy that is triggering depression, and drugs that only deal with symptoms is not going to truly address the emotional nor physical needs of patients long term. In fact many pharmacuetical drugs contribute to increasing the risk of mental health disease, including phyical disease..Yes there are anti-depressants that cause depression.. Thus Integrative Medicine and the holistic approach is the most effective way to address depression in all of its many forms. The goal should be always try to find a way to stop the depression, not suppress it. As suppression can lead to long term chronic health problems later in life.
Ketamine is (rarely) used as a Pharmaceutical Anesthetic.
Ketamine may cause Euphoria in many users and may cause Hallucinations.
By activating PCP Receptors located within the body's N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptors, Ketamine may interfere (block) the normal function of the body's NMDA Receptors (this mechanism is the underlying process by which Ketamine attains its biochemical effects within the body). When PCP Receptors are activated, they antagonize the actions of Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid and N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, preventing the normal activation of NMDA Receptors - substances that activate PCP Receptors "plug" the Ion Channel of the NMDA Receptor, preventing Calcium Ion influx.
Ketamine may cause long-lasting Psychosis that has required hospitalization in some users...
Depression cannot be addressed by just medical drugs (Rx) alone. Depression should be addressed through a combination of psycho-therapy, dietary recommendations, exercize, spirituality and cultural community involvements and meditation(such as Yoga)...
They to effective treatment of depression is to determine the underlying cause of the depression. That can vary from person to person. No physician should use the same Rx for all patients to treat depression. Depression triggered by breaking up a relationship or loosing a loved one should not be treated in the same manner as depression triggered by a food Allergy or dietary issues or that is triggered from a persons physical circumstance(such as being injured and no longer being able to play your favorite game or do something you love doing)... All of these are different underlying causes and must be addressed according to its specific circumstances... Trying to treat these three with the same method is not going to produce effective results in some, while it may work perfect with others.... Psychotherapy would not be an effective first line of treatment for a food Allergy that is triggering depression, and drugs that only deal with symptoms is not going to truly address the emotional nor physical needs of patients long term. In fact many pharmacuetical drugs contribute to increasing the risk of mental health disease, including phyical disease..Yes there are anti-depressants that cause depression.. Thus Integrative Medicine and the holistic approach is the most effective way to address depression in all of its many forms. The goal should be always try to find a way to stop the depression, not suppress it. As suppression can lead to long term chronic health problems later in life.
1 UpVoted this answer
Ketamine has been used in experimental settings as an "emergency intervention" for severe depression. This has had some promising results over the typical course of in-patient treatment which typically requires hospital stays of 2 weeks or more for severe depression/suicidal states. It is in no way indicated for mild depression. Even in the severe states, it is helpful only as a band-aid, and does not lead to long term improvement. As a naturopathic doctor whose practice is 100% mental health focused, I have never referred a patient to get a ketamine prescription, even for very severe depression. There are natural treatments, targeted specifically individual symptoms and underlying factors/causes that can have results that are as profound (and sometimes more so) as the use of this drug with much more long lasting results and few to no side effects.
1 UpVoted this answer
I am a naturopathic doctor and do not use pharmaceutical drugs. I look for the underlying cause of your depression and try to give the body the nutrients it needs to function properly.
I dont think ketamine would work try using abilify and talk to someone about how you feel.I used to be depressed and I started abilify and zoloft for me it helped especially if you have any anxiety the zoloft will help but when you take it be careful and closely watch how you're eating because it can cause weight gain plus if you need to don't just talk to a professional sometimes you really need to talk with someone that you trust and you can vent to them but don't isolate your self it makes everything worse. Plus no matter how you feel always smile it send enzymes into your brain producing happy feelings.
Ketamine is used as an anethesia before surgery administered in a hospital. I am not aware of its use for depression. I would say that it is very risky and not a good idea to use it for any ongoing condition. As is stated in other answers, there are many possible causes for depression. Your first step is to get a good physical checkup and then an assessment by a psychologist to determine what psychological, social, or environmental factors may be contributing to your depression. For instance, if your mood is unstable due to diabetes, an antidepressant is not the right answer. If you are depressed because your homelife is unhappy, an antidepressant or natural product will not solve your problems. Then if your physician and psychologist confer with each other, a more complete and accurate intervention plan can be created.
I hope you find this useful.
I hope you find this useful.
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