Common Ketamine Myths
1. Ketamine Doesn’t Treat Depression
There is no uniform treatment for all patients with depression. Before you start your ketamine treatment, you will be asked to provide your medical history and details about the past therapies that you had, so that your doctor can provide you with proper treatment. In most cases, people get the drug from clinics that don’t have the proper medical staff. For the drug to effectively treat treatment-resistant depression, you should consult a medical professional to find out the correct dosage. Just like any other drug, ketamine is not given at the same dosage.
2. Ketamine Is Bad
The most common myth relating to ketamine is that it has some life-threatening effects. Reports that suggest that some lethal side effects are associated with the drug omit a critical point that those people took ketamine in large doses and without any medical supervision. Any drug would turn lethal if it is taken more than prescribed or without doctor’s advice. The drug is revolutionary when it comes to treating depression. The key, however, is to use it responsibly.
3. A Tranquilizer For Animals
While it’s true that veterinary hospitals use ketamine to sedate large anumals like horses, its use is not limited to animals. In fact, many vets use this medicine to sedate large dogs as well. There are so many human medicines that you can safely administer to animals. The statement that ketamine is a tranquilizer for animals has no basis at all.
4. Ketamine Is Dangerous
This is the extension of what we discussed above. Any drug which is misused is dangerous for human consumption. Large doses of ketamine may result in harmful side effects such as psychosis, memory loss, and unconsciousness. When you consult with a medical professional, they will give you the exact amount of dose that your body can handle, to ensure that you don’t have to encounter any side effects.
5. It Is a Recreational Drug
Ketamine was once the life of bars and late-night parties. However, the fact that the drug made people wobbly or high is mostly due to the misuse of the drug. Previously approved as anesthesia in by the FDA, the authorities approved the drug for treating depression in 2019. This drug is not a party drug anymore and is wildly being accepted in medical settings as a vital player in contributing to mental health improvements.
The Final Word
There is no denying that ketamine has shown wonderful results when it comes to tackling treatment-resistant depression. It is a safe drug to use, provided that you consult with your doctor before using it.