Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic and a dangerous club drug. But in recent years, researchers have discovered that it can also be quite beneficial for people who have certain mental health conditions. This includes using ketamine for postpartum depression treatment.
Understanding Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder with symptoms that begin while a person is pregnant or within a few weeks after they have given birth.
The clinical term for this condition, as established in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), is major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. It may also be referred to as perinatal depression.
Symptoms of postpartum depression can include:
- Deep sadness and uncontrolled crying
- Agitation, restlessness, and irritability
- Sense of worthlessness or helplessness
- Sudden, dramatic shifts in mood
- Lack of energy and motivation
- Headaches, stomach aches, and muscle pain
- Problems with focus, concentration, and memory
- Inability to feel happiness or experience pleasure
- Difficulty forming an attachment to the infant
- Fear that they may harm the infant
- Belief that they are a failure as a parent
It is difficult to determine exactly how many people develop postpartum depression, as many are never diagnosed, but many informed estimates are in the 10%-20% range. For example:
- An analysis of more than a decade’s worth of electronic health records from Kaiser Permanente Southern California found that the annual rate of PPD increased from 9.4% in 2010 to 19.3% in 2021. The average rate across the entire 11 year period was 13.9%.
- This is consistent with global data from the World Health Organization (WHO), which suggests that about 10% of pregnant people and 13% of those who have recently given birth struggle with depression or another mental health concern.
The Science Behind Ketamine
The emergence of ketamine as a promising medication for people with depression has been one of the most significant developments in mental health treatment this century.
Physicians and veterinarians in the U.S. have been using ketamine to sedate and anesthetize patients since the 1970s. But it wasn’t until the early 2000s that research revealed the medication’s ability to rapidly alleviate depression symptoms.
Ketamine’s antidepressant effects seem to be related to the drug’s influence on glutamate production within the central nervous system (CNS). Glutamate is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter that plays a key role in memory, learning, and mood.
Ketamine experts at Yale Medicine found that ketamine prompts the CNS to increase production of glutamate. Elevated glutamate levels, in turn, cause a chain reaction that ends with the creation of new neural pathways in the brain. These additional connections among neurons seem to help patients think and act in a more positive manner.
John Krystal, MD, chief psychiatrist at Yale Medicine, described ketamine as “a game changer” in depression treatment.
“When you take ketamine, it triggers reactions in your cortex that enable brain connections to regrow,” Krystal described. “It’s the reaction to ketamine, not the presence of ketamine in the body that constitutes its effects.”
Discover How Is Ketamine Used for Postpartum Depression?
Ketamine for postpartum depression usually involves either a nasal spray or an intravenous (IV) infusion:
- Nasal spray: In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Spravato, a medication that contains a ketamine variant called esketamine. Spravato is delivered through a nasal spray that patients administer themselves while being supervised by a qualified physician.
- Infusion: Ketamine infusion therapy involves the placement of a small needle in the patient’s arm. This needle is connected via a short rubber tube to a bag that contains a ketamine solution. Ketamine infusion sessions usually last about 40-60 minutes, with many patients experiencing depression relief within hours of their first session.
Studies have found that both the nasal spray and IV infusions can be effective at easing or preventing the onset of postpartum depression.
Patients who receive either the Spravato nasal spray or IV infusions of ketamine for postpartum depression usually participate in several sessions over a period of a few weeks. The number and frequency of these sessions can vary depending on the type and severity of the patient’s symptoms.
4 Additional Ways to Treat Postpartum Depression
Ketamine therapy is just one of several approaches that can help people who have postpartum depression. Other options include:
- Oral antidepressants: Commonly prescribed antidepressants for PPD include sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and paroxetine (Paxil). Also, in April 2023, the FDA announced that it has approved the first oral medication that is specifically designed to treat postpartum depression.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a short-term, solution-oriented type of psychotherapy that addresses the impact of maladaptive core beliefs, dysfunctional assumptions, and automatic negative thoughts. With the guidance of a trained professional, patients can identify how these concerns have affected them, then learn to adopt healthier ways of thinking and behaving.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): DBT focuses on skills development in four key areas, mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT usually involves both individual and group sessions.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: If a person’s struggles with postpartum depression are related to a history of untreated trauma, EMDR can be a vital component of care. This approach helps patients alleviate painful emotions that are directly related to specific traumatic memories.
Ketamine for postpartum depression has been shown to offer a rapid and effective alternative for many individuals struggling with severe symptoms of PPD.
There is no one single perfect way to treat postpartum depression. Depending on each patient’s needs and goals, their care may involve several elements, including medication, multiple types of therapy, and various support services.
This highlights the importance of finding a treatment provider that will assess the full scope of your needs, then work closely with you to develop a customized plan just for you.
Contact Conscious Health About Our Ketamine Treatments Today
Conscious Health is a trusted provider of innovative, holistic outpatient care for adults who have been affected by postpartum depression and other mental health concerns.
Depression treatment options at our center in Los Angeles, California, include Spravato, ketamine for postpartum depression (ketamine infusions), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, vibroacoustic therapy, and a variety of additional services. Ketamine for postpartum depression has shown promising results for individuals seeking relief from the debilitating symptoms of PPD.
When you choose Conscious Health, you have the opportunity to work in active collaboration with a small team of experienced and highly skilled professionals. We understand how disruptive untreated PPD can be, and we are here to provide the focused solutions that will help you achieve improved health and a much more satisfying future.
To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
Published: 1/13/2024
