Anyone here well versed on Ketamine Therapy? I personally don't want to try it, but I have a friend whose bilpolar and I am always on the lookout for new therapies to help him. I know some members here struggle with depression too.
[url="http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20140923/ketamine-depression"]Ketamine: The Future of Depression Treatment?[/url]
[COLOR=#d3d3d3][SIZE=3][QUOTE][/SIZE][/COLOR][h=2][COLOR=#d3d3d3][SIZE=3]Ketamine: The Future of Depression Treatment?[/SIZE][/COLOR][/h][FONT=Lato][SIZE=3][COLOR=#d3d3d3]By [/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/matt-mcmillen"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]Matt McMillen [/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3] WebMD Health News[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lato][SIZE=3][COLOR=#d3d3d3]Reviewed by [/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/michael-w-smith"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]Michael W. Smith, MD[/COLOR][/URL][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lato][/FONT] [FONT=Lato][SIZE=3][COLOR=#d3d3d3]Sept. 23, 2014 -- Every year, 13 million to 14 million Americans have[/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/major-depression"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]major depression[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3]. Of those who seek treatment, 30% to 40% will not get better or fully recover with standard [/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-medications-antidepressants"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]antidepressants[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3].[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lato][SIZE=3][COLOR=#d3d3d3]That puts them at greater risk of alcohol and [/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/default.htm"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]drug abuse[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3], hospitalization, and [/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/help/crisis-resources"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]suicide[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3] attempts. Now, though, a growing body of research shows there may be new hope: the anesthetic drug ketamine.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lato][SIZE=3][COLOR=#d3d3d3]Ketamine has a reputation as an illicit party drug due to its hallucinogenic effects. But in a handful of ketamine clinics around the country, people who weren't helped by standard treatments are getting a series of infusions to ease their [/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/depression/default.htm"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]depression[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3]. The drug has also been used in emergency rooms for curbing [/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/tc/suicidal-thoughts-or-threats-topic-overview"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]suicidal[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3] thoughts, making it a potential lifesaver.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lato][SIZE=3][COLOR=#d3d3d3]“The benefits I’ve seen are pretty impressive, and the data are very strong,” says [/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]psychiatrist[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3] Kyle Lapidus, MD, PhD. He's an assistant professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Stony Brook University. Lapidus says there have been a large number of positive studies, though the number of participants in those studies has been small.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][COLOR=#d3d3d3][FONT=Lato]Ketamine acts quickly -- often within hours or less -- and [/FONT][/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/default.htm"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]health care[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3][FONT=Lato]professionals who give it to patients at therapeutic doses say it has mild and brief side effects in most people. But it hasn't been thoroughly studied for long-term safety and effectiveness, and the FDA hasn't approved it to treat [/FONT][/COLOR][URL="http://www.webmd.com/depression/ss/slideshow-depression-overview"][COLOR=#d3d3d3]depression[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#d3d3d3][FONT=Lato]. “The pace of research can be slow for people who are suffering,” Lapidus says.[/FONT][/QUOTE][/COLOR][/SIZE]