Ketamine has gained popularity in recent years as a promising treatment for depression and other chronic treatment-resistant mood disorders. Initially used as an anaesthetic in operating rooms, it has been found to provide patients with a "mental time out" from distressing thoughts and behavioural patterns. This temporary relief allows the brain to establish new and positive neural pathways while alleviating suffering in patients.
While the drug has not been widely approved by the US Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of mood disorders, physicians are permitted to prescribe it "off label" at their own discretion. In 2019, esketamine - a version of ketamine - was approved in nasal spray form for the treatment of major depression and suicidal ideation.
Researchers at Yale University have hailed ketamine as a "miracle" drug and a "game changer". In one study, 70% of patients who received the nasal spray and were previously unresponsive to treatment reported improvement.
The flexibility in access has led to the rise of ketamine clinics, and the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in online prescriptions. However, critics have raised concerns about the lack of clinical oversight and the risk of misuse. Ketamine remains understudied, and its side effects are only beginning to be understood.
As interest in ketamine grows, US President Joseph Biden has proposed an overhaul of prescription drug availability online, which could lead to stricter controls on access.
In this episode of The Stream, we speak with experts in the field of ketamine treatment to discuss the promises, realities, and unknowns of this increasingly popular therapeutic. While ketamine has been hailed as a potential life-saver for those with depression and other mood disorders, caution is still needed as more research is conducted to fully understand its potential benefits and risks.
See Al Jazeera Youtube video here
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