ketAmine.

From Anaesthetic to Anti-depressant…..

Over several decades, research has shown that ketamine has antidepressive properties. Ketamine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia, although it is also being used for the management of psychiatric disorders and chronic pain management. Ketamine has been incorporated into the treatment of psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as post-operative and chronic pain management. Intravenous (IV) ketamine therapy is not a first-line therapy for psychiatric disorders or chronic pain management and is only considered after failure of standard treatment.  Please note that esketamine nasal spray, a derivative of ketamine, has been separately approved by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression.

Ketamine infusion therapy involves the administration of a single infusion or a series of infusions for the management of psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, acute suicidality). Ketamine is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that has traditionally been used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia. As ketamine infusion clinics in healthcare facilities become available, psychiatric-mental health advanced practice nurses (APRNs) to provide ketamine therapy services for individuals with chronic and medication resistant mental health disorders.