Pandora

One of the things that makes Ketamine Therapy so exciting and effective, is it works by a completely different mechanism of action from anything else that has been used to treat the above-mentioned conditions. It does not affect serotonin or dopamine like your conventional SSRI and SNRI antidepressant medications. It does not affect opioid receptors or temporarily “numb” pain like conventional opiates and opioids.

For the treatment of mood disorders such as depression, ketamine actually helps to form new connections and repair damaged cells in the brain.

For the scientifically inclined, Ketamine is an NMDA (n-methyl d-aspartate) receptor antagonist and an AMPA receptor stimulator. AMPA stimulation results in increases in BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF stimulates the formation of new receptors and synapses (which are vital connections between neurons). Research suggests that a deficiency in these connections is associated with major depressive disorder and other mood disorders, difficulties with sleep, over-stimulation, and focus. It also causes an increase in the amino acid and neurotransmitter glutamate. A lack of glutamate has been linked to issues with sleep, focus, and mood.

For the treatment of pain such as CRPS, ketamine acts to reset pain receptors and block signals of pain, restoring a healthier balance. Many pain patients suffer from a process known as central sensitization, where pain signals increase in frequency and intensity over time. Ketamine’s effects cause positive changes in pain receptors that last long after the medicine has left the body.