Suffering with major depressive disorder, often called MDD, can be one of biggest emotional struggles an individual can face, changing everything about how you live your normal everyday life. For many years, the primary treatment for MDD has come in the form of anti-depressants, some of which have been proven to have some serious side effects and minimal effect on the illness. One of the latest developments in treating MDD is ketamine therapy and is showing great promise to become a highly effective remedy for those who suffer with MDD and other emotional illnesses. If you suffer with MDD, you are bound to want to know more about what ketamine therapy is and how it could help you. 

What exactly is ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication that belongs to a family of drugs known as dissociative anesthetics. This drug has been used for many different things through the years, from in anesthesia administration to pain management, but has recently became a topic of interest for treating MDD. Ketamine is available in tablet, liquid, and other forms. While ketamine is manufactured and a prescription drug only, there are also street drugs that go by a similar name. However, the ketamine available on the streets is not a reliable source of medication. 

How does ketamine therapy work?

Ketamine therapy is sometimes performed in a medical setting because the medication is administered slowly through an IV for the most results. However, ketamine can also be given as a sublingual film or tablet that dissolves under the tongue, or even sprayed into the sinus cavities by a practitioner. However, IV dosing is considered to be the easiest way to deliver exact, controlled doses with reliable outcomes. The therapy, in general, involves supply your body with a low dose of ketamine that is designed to help achieve relief of your symptoms from MDD. 

Why is ketamine considered more effective than traditional routes of treatment?

Even though ketamine therapy is fairly new, it is gaining in popularity for treatment of MDD for good reasons. This form of therapy is helpful to patients without the severe side effects that many other forms of treatment have posed in the past. Ketamine is considered more effective for some because it works in a completely different manner. While most antidepressants manipulate neurotransmitters in the brain, ketamine actually blocks certain brain receptors so the unpleasant feelings and thoughts are easier controlled. 

Check with places like IV Wellness Center for more details about this therapy.