IM Ketamine Therapy: A Faster Path to Relief for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Depression is more than just occasional sadness; it’s a chronic condition that leads to multiple symptoms, including trouble sleeping, persistent hopelessness, and mood swings. Though medications and therapy help many, new hope is available for those who haven’t found relief yet.

At Pacific Phoenix Psychiatry & TMS, Dr. Elia R. Gonzalez-Rodriguez offers mental health therapies that help, including IM ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression. She evaluates your needs to determine the best treatment, including TMS.

Understanding treatment-resistant depression

Many people with depression do well on antidepressants and therapy, but they don’t work for everyone. If you’ve tried several approaches without significant relief, know that other promising solutions exist.

Treatment-resistant depression occurs when someone experiences severe depression that does not respond to medications. For a diagnosis, you must try at least two antidepressants without symptom relief.

You must be on the medications at a standard dose and duration without success. It then requires a comprehensive assessment to determine which other advanced treatments may offer fast, permanent relief.

What is IM ketamine therapy?

Ketamine is a drug that anesthesiologists utilize for its anesthetic and dissociative effects. In more recent years, doctors have been using it for the rapid treatment of depression and suicidal ideation.

Ketamine works on the NMDA receptors, which are also glutamate receptors. Glutamate is an amino acid in the brain that’s excitatory and regulates mood and brain function. Ketamine triggers a surge in glutamate production, which awakens other receptors.

The result is neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways and learn from itself, essentially rewiring itself to change how it learns and reacts to external stimuli. These new neural connections allow ketamine to change someone’s mood so quickly, especially with depression.

We provide IM ketamine therapy by injecting it into a large muscle, usually in the upper arm. You may require several injections for long-term relief, and some people take maintenance doses to continue feeling better.

IM ketamine therapy for faster relief

IM ketamine is a great option for people with treatment-resistant depression because it works quickly and offers a long-term solution to depression symptoms. Antidepressants like SSRIs take several weeks to work, which isn’t ideal for people with severe depression or suicidal ideation.

IM ketamine begins working on the brain immediately, allowing it to form new connections, which could have been decreased due to depression. These new connections are what help people with severe depression overcome it without relying on daily medication.

Many people notice a difference in symptoms after one injection, and with continued treatment, they often experience sustained improvements and renewed hope for their future.

Contact our team today to schedule an appointment for IM ketamine therapy or request a consultation online. We’re here to support your journey to renewed mental wellness, serving the greater Portland area, including Salmon Creek, Vancouver, and Steilacoom-Lakewood, Washington.