KETAMINE:
What is it?
According to MicroHealth (2015), Ketamine is a N- menthyl- D- aspartate receptor antagonist with dissociative, anesthetic, analgesic, and hallucinogenic properties first synthesized in 1962.
Ketamine was first used medically in the mid 1960s when it was used specifically as a battlefield anesthetic in the Vietnam War, and is still the most widely known anesthetic today.
Ketamine can be used to treat several psychiatric disorders such as:
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Major Depressive Disorder
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Bipolar Depression
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Postpartum depression
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PTSD and
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Ketamine has recently been introduced to patients who have not responded to other options for PTSD. Ketamine is usually given to people who are experiencing symptoms of PTSD at sub-anesthetic doses (0.5 mg/kg) so that it is safe to use while at work, at home etc.
According to the Ketamine treatment center (2017), there are huge benefits of ketamine. One of these benefits being that if a individual is going to respond in a positive manner to ketamine, he or she will notice improvement of their symptoms relatively quickly. If the individual does have a positive reaction to the use of ketamine, symptoms can start to improve within hours to days rather than weeks to months. In addition to this, research has shown that a single dose of ketamine can reduce symptoms of PTSD and if an individual is going to respond to this treatment the patient and the physician will know after 1 or 2 infusions. The benefit of this drug acting so quickly saves many individuals who are suffering from PTSD money, time, or negative side-effects from other drugs.
MircoHealth (2015) explains how anti-psychotics such as ketamine, are some of the more drug treatments as they ease agitation, dissociation, and paranoia that is associated with PTSD.
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Ketamine, blocks MDMA receptors (structures on brain cells whose membrane is permeable to calcium) for glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter involved in cognitive functions such as learning and memory.
Antagonist meaning, they block or counteract the effects of certain neurotransmitters.
What does it DO and how Does it Work?
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Here is a video which further explains and breaks down the physiological aspect of how ketamine affects the human body. As well as the relation that ketamine has with MDMA:
Ketamine acts as an antagonist to MDMA.
Provided is a website that provides more insight of how ketamine physiologically relieves depression by restoring brain connections.
Recommendations:
Listening to the radio broadcast to have a clear understanding of the physiological connections.