How IM Ketamine Therapy Offers Rapid Breakthrough Relief for Treatment-Resistant Depression

According to the World Health Organization, about 5.7% of people suffer from depression globally. It’s more common in women than men, and there are several effective treatments – but what if they don’t work?

Treatment-resistant depression is an issue that happens when symptoms continue despite psychotherapy, medications, and lifestyle changes. At Pacific Phoenix Psychiatry & TMS, Dr. Elia R. Gonzalez-Rodriguez offers several depression treatments, including IM ketamine therapy for rapid relief.

Dr. Gonzalez-Rodriguez is a psychiatrist providing GeneSight testing, medication management, and TMS therapy for anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Understanding IM ketamine

IM ketamine is a way for us to help people who have depression that hasn’t responded to traditional medication and therapy treatments. Ketamine is an anesthetic that doctors also use to help with several mental health disorders, including treatment-resistant depression.

A benefit of IM ketamine therapy is that we perform it right here in our office. Each treatment takes at least an hour because we monitor your reaction and vital signs to ensure you’re safe during and after the injection.

IM ketamine is a shot that we give under the skin. It goes to work quickly to alleviate depression symptoms, even after the first injection. Many people require several injections for ketamine to change the brain’s processes to alleviate depression symptoms fully.

Most people with treatment-resistant depression require two injections per week for at least three weeks. However, everyone responds differently, and you may require more or fewer treatments.

How does IM ketamine help depression?

IM ketamine is a great option for people living with treatment-resistant depression. Highly effective, it works quickly by altering the brain’s chemistry. Unlike SSRIs and other antidepressants, ketamine works on NMDA receptors instead of serotonin.

It blocks NMDA receptors, leading to a surge in glutamate, which plays a role in memory and learning. The glutamate surge triggers synaptogenesis, in which neurons form new neural connections.

These new connections restore the communication between certain brain circuits that depression affects. The result is fewer symptoms and a reduction in suicidal thoughts in much less time than medications and therapy alone.

The process of synaptogenesis allows neuroplasticity, which helps people with depression understand and change negative thought patterns during psychotherapy sessions.

Is IM ketamine an option for me?

IM ketamine is a great option for many people, especially those with suicidal ideation or treatment-resistant depression. However, it isn’t for everyone, so we require an intake appointment to evaluate your symptoms and determine whether you’re a good candidate.

At your intake appointment, we discuss your treatment goals, medications, and medical history to determine if ketamine is a good option for your needs. If so, we move forward in scheduling you for the first IM ketamine appointment.

You may not be a good candidate for ketamine if you’re pregnant, have high blood pressure, or have certain cardiac conditions. We require a negative pregnancy test before considering IM ketamine for biologically female patients.

Find out more about our ketamine treatments by contacting our Pacific Phoenix Psychiatry & TMS team to schedule your appointment or send us a message through our website.