Ketamine Therapy vs. Traditional Antidepressants

For many, depression can feel like a heavy fog, one that traditional antidepressants fail to lift. If you're living with persistent symptoms, ketamine therapy could be the promising path forward you've been looking for. Here's how this groundbreaking treatment compares to conventional treatment methods, and who might benefit from ketamine therapy.

What Is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy is a medically supervised treatment that uses low doses of ketamine to help relieve symptoms of depression and other mood disorders. Originally developed and used as an anesthetic, ketamine is now recognized for its fast-acting antidepressant effects for those who haven't responded to traditional treatments.

During a ketamine therapy session, the medication is administered in a controlled clinical setting to allow you to experience its therapeutic effects safely. There are two primary forms of ketamine therapy:

• Intravenous infusions: IV ketamine infusions allow the medication to be delivered directly into your bloodstream, helping relieve symptoms as quickly as possible.
• SPRAVATO®: SPRAVATO® is actually esketamine, a refined version of ketamine, and is delivered via a nasal spray. It's FDA-approved for adults with treatment-resistant depression.

Here at SD Wellness Group, we offer IV ketamine infusions through a provider in our network and administer SPRAVATO® treatments on-site, giving you access to both of these safe, trusted treatment options.

How Does Ketamine Work?

Ketamine treatments work by affecting the brain's glutamate system, which is responsible for mood regulation, learning, and memory. By boosting activity in this system, ketamine could help strengthen neural connections, essentially "rewiring" the parts of your brain involved in regulating your emotions. Thanks to this hyper-targeted approach, ketamine has been shown to quickly offer noticeable improvements in both mood and energy, sometimes within hours of treatment.

How Traditional Antidepressants Work

Most conventional antidepressants work by attempting to increase serotonin in the brain. While they can be effective, there is no quick serotonin switch that they can flip on–that means traditional medications often take several weeks to begin working, if they work at all. That timeframe is especially problematic for those experiencing intense symptoms and thoughts of self-harm.

Key Differences Between Ketamine and Traditional Antidepressants

Speed of Relief

Ketamine: Many report improvement after just one or two treatment sessions.

Antidepressants: Typically take 4-6 weeks to reach full effectiveness, if treatment works at all.

Mechanism of Action

Ketamine: Targets the glutamate system to help promote healthy neural connections and mood regulation.

Antidepressants: Aims to increase serotonin to balance mood.

Effectiveness

Ketamine: Shown to be effective where other more conventional treatment methods have failed.

Antidepressants: Often ineffective for those with chronic, treatment-resistant depression.

Side Effects

Ketamine: Can include mild feelings of dissociation, drowsiness, and dizziness, which typically subside quickly. For enhanced safety, ketamine is administered under the supervision of a medical professional, and clients are not allowed to drive immediately following treatment.

Antidepressants: A range of side effects have been reported, with common ones including nausea, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, sleep disturbances, lightheadedness, and, in rare cases, increased thoughts of self-harm.

Who Should Consider Ketamine Therapy?

Just like any treatment option, ketamine therapy isn't right for everyone–but for those it is right for, it can be life-changing. You may be a good candidate for ketamine therapy if you:

• Have tried conventional treatments with little or no success.
• Are experiencing severe symptoms that impact your ability to function daily.
• Have thoughts of self-harm.
• Are committed to your wellness journey, as treatments are performed in-person over the course of a few weeks.

Compassionate, Accessible, Effective Care

If traditional antidepressants haven't worked for you, hope isn't lost. Connect with SD Wellness Group to learn more about our IV ketamine infusions and SPRAVATO® (esketamine) treatments. Unlike many other ketamine clinics in the San Diego area, we're often able to schedule you within a week of reaching out. To help make recovery accessible to all, we're also in-network with many major insurance providers and offer some of the most competitive prices in Southern California.

If you're ready for a tailored depression or mood disorder treatment plan that sets the foundation for lifelong recovery, reach out today. Together, we'll explore all your options and find the right path forward for you.