Ketamine is an antidepressant medication used to treat treatment-resistant Major Depression.
Scetamine
Treatment of resistant depression
The Clinic of Change uses this new medicine when deemed clinically indicated by our team.
Who is Ketamine recommended for?
This medicine is used in adults to reduce the symptoms of depression, such as feelings of sadness, anxiety or worthlessness, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, loss of interest in favorite activities and feeling sluggish.
Ketamine is indicated for those suffering from Treatment Resistant Major Depression. Treatment resistance is defined as the absence of improvement after two complete treatments with antidepressants. It is estimated that the global prevalence of Major Depression is around 10-15%, with more than a third of treated patients progressing to Treatment Resistant Depression.
It is also used in adults as a short-term treatment (because it produces effects more quickly, over a period of one to four weeks) in order to quickly reduce the symptoms of depression in a situation that requires immediate treatment (psychiatric emergency), in the case of severe episodes of depression and marked suicidal ideation.
It is administered together with another antidepressant if you have already tried at least two other antidepressant drugs but they didn't help, and the administration will be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
How is Ketamine used?
The medicine is used via a nasal spray device. The healthcare professional will show you how to use the nasal spray device. You will spray the medicine into your nose yourself. A healthcare professional will be there to help you when you are ready to use the device.
The drug is dispensed exclusively through a hospital pharmacy. Treatment doses can vary between 1, 2 or 3 devices, depending on the patient's age and clinical condition. A doctor will decide on the amount and frequency of treatment.
Each treatment session involves the administration of ketamine followed by a period of monitoring by a healthcare professional.
Some specific indications:
- Avoid food in the 2 hours before treatment;
- Avoid using medicines that are sprayed into the nose during the hour before treatment;
- Avoid drinking in the 30 minutes before treatment.
How does ketamine work?
Ketamine is an antidepressant that acts on NMDA receptors, promoting the release of Glutamate, regulating the transmission of signals between cells in brain areas involved in mood regulation. This is a totally different mechanism of action to current antidepressants.
What are the proven benefits?
The studies carried out on around 1,800 patients, which led to the drug's approval by the FDA, the European Medicines Agency and Infarmed, showed that Ketamine, administered with an oral antidepressant, relieves the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, as measured by a standardized scoring system known as the MADRS. The results of the studies carried out convincingly showed that, in general, Ketamine was more effective than placebo in the short term, while still maintaining its benefits in the long term.
What are the risks of ketamine?
The most common side effects are dizziness, headache, nausea (feeling sick and wanting to vomit), dissociation (feeling disconnected from yourself, your thoughts, emotions and your surroundings), drowsiness, vertigo, changes in taste and peripheral sensitivity. These effects are limited to the time of the session (between 1h30 and 2h). One possible effect is a rise in blood pressure during the session, which justifies a specific and periodic prior assessment by a health professional.
What happens after use?
After use, you will be asked to remain in the healthcare facility. The healthcare professional will ensure that you are in a relaxed and calm environment. You can rest in a comfortable chair or lie down. Like all medicines, this one can cause undesirable effects, although not everybody gets them.
Your healthcare professional will regularly check how you are feeling and assess your blood pressure. When the treatment session is over and you no longer need to be monitored, you will be informed by the healthcare professional that you can leave the healthcare facility. If you have any questions or concerns about the risks or undesirable effects of using this medicine, you will be fully informed by our team, who will always be at your disposal.
What is the regulation of ketamine?
In addition to its approval in the United States, Ketamine was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2019 and is widely used throughout Europe. It is therefore an approved drug, with a well-defined protocol, guaranteed results and safety, with a clear indication in the treatment of Treatment-Resistant Depression and in short-term acute treatment for the rapid reduction of depressive symptoms. It was officially approved for marketing in Portugal in March 2022.
"*" indicates mandatory fields
