Ketamine, originally approved by the FDA in 1970 as a general anesthetic, has been used for many years as an anesthetic, a street drug, and a pain treatment. In 2000, researchers discovered that low doses of ketamine could have fast and powerful antidepressant effects, especially for people who don’t respond to typical treatments for depression (known as Treatment-Resistant Depression, or TRD). When given in these smaller, "sub-anesthetic" doses, ketamine can quickly improve mood and help people with depression feel better.

Although scientists aren’t exactly sure how ketamine works, we know that it stimulates brain growth and helps repair damage caused by stress and depression. It also reduces inflammation and lowers stress hormones like cortisol. Ketamine therapy, when provided by trained medical professionals, is now giving hope to people with Treatment-Resistant Depression and chronic pain, offering rapid relief from their symptoms and improving their overall well-being.
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Most antidepressants work by increasing levels of chemicals like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which play a role in how we feel and remember things. Ketamine, however, works differently and has changed the way we think about treating depression. Its main target is the brain’s NMDA receptor, which works with a chemical called glutamate. Instead of increasing serotonin or dopamine like traditional antidepressants, ketamine blocks the NMDA receptor, allowing the brain to form new connections and start healing itself.

Many patients who try ketamine therapy experience almost immediate relief from symptoms of depression and pain. Ketamine is fast-acting, and because it moves through the body quickly, patients can experience the benefits without a long recovery time.