Depression is one of the most widely spread disorders in the world, affecting more than 350 million people. Although, depression affects millions of people, it is not spoken about due to several misconceptions attached to the disorder.
Doctors treat depression through counselling or medication or both. Lately, the notorious party drug ketamine or Special K is being used by doctors in small doses to treat severely depressed patients.
However, experts have raised concerns over this prescription drug being given to depressed patients, given that overdoses could be fatal for human life.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine, or Special K, is a dissociative anesthetic, which alters an individual's perception of vision and sound. It also brings about a feeling of dissociation and detachment from the surroundings.
Ketamine can be consumed in many ways. One can inject it as an intravenous drug, smoke it, or snort it as a powder.
It is an extremely powerful anesthetic, typically used for tranquilizing and sobering large mammals such as horses and cattle.
Questions On Ketamine Depression Treatment
Even though psychiatrists use anti-depressants and psychotherapy to treat depression, patients still tend to feel dejected and suicidal. In a number of small studies, it has been found that ketamine in small doses can relieve an individual of the feeling of suicidal depression in a matter of hours.
However, this is not the first time ketamine is being used in treating depression. It has been recognized as an effective anti-depressant more than 10 years ago. The American Psychiatric Association had researched on ketamine, and has determined that the drug counters depression robustly.
"If you have patients that are likely to seriously injure themselves or kill themselves within a short period of time, and they've tried the standard treatments, how do you not offer this treatment?" said Gerard Sanacora, a professor of psychiatry at Yale University.
He has cured many patients by administering minute quantities of this drug. Several other doctors echo his thoughts and feel that this drug is quite useful the in treatment of depression.
Why Are Experts Unsure?
Scientists are still in the dark when it comes to ketamine. Even though doctors regularly administer this drug, it is not clear as to how much dosage would be safe for the patient.
Ketamine's effects wear off in a few days. Therefore, patients need to consume it regularly. This increases the risk of overdose. The long-term effects of the drug are yet to be known.
According to Sanacora, depressed patients see ketamine as their last resort after having exhausted all other options. Approximately 50 percent to 75 percent of these patients feel better within 24 hours of ketamine treatment.
Scientists, however, are continuing their research to find out more about this powerful drug. They have even developed a sister drug, named esketamine, which is currently in the testing phase at the Food and Drug Administration.
Photo: Ryan Melaugh | Flickr
