What Are The Effects Of Ketamine On The Human Brain And Mental Health?

Ketamine is a drug that is widely used to induce anesthesia or loss of consciousness due to its powerful hallucinogenic and pain-killing attributes. It has been using to treat chronic pains, depression, migraines, PTSD, and some OCD symptoms for many years. This way, this anesthetic medication supports many of us to overcome our mental health challenges. However, this article will provide you with more information regarding the effects of ketamine on the brain and mental health. So, keep reading it!

What Is It?

First developed in 1962, Ketamine is a fast-acting anesthetic medication majorly used in operating rooms and for pain management. It normally affects the brain and central nervous system by producing a numbing sensation. Hence, the other names of Ketamine are Special K, Kitkat, Super K, Vitamin K, Horse tank, and Cat Valium. 

How Is It Used?

Ketamine can be injected, snorted, or swallowed as it is available in liquid, powder, and pill forms. Once it is taken, the effects of ketamine will start within 30 seconds if injected, 5–10 minutes if snorted, and about 20 minutes if swallowed. However, these effects will last approximately an hour. 

How Does Ketamine Affect the Human Brain?

Ketamine doesn’t just affect one system of the brain, but it targets many. Some of the key effects of this anesthetic medication on the brain are as follows:

• Produces Synapses Or Neuron Connections

  • Stress can disrupt neuron connections in the brain, which causes a mental illness like depression or PTSD. It can be treated by taking Ketamine as it promotes synaptic growth in the affected parts of the depressed brain. 

  • Low consumption of this medicine can upsurge glutamate production that can lead to producing new neuron connections or synapses in the parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These parts of the brain ensure to regulate mood, memory, behavior, and character development. This way, Ketamine helps people to treat their mental disorders. 

• Normalizes GABA and Glutamate Levels

  • Ketamine has an impact on the brain by affecting glutamate receptor genes. Glutamate can lead to an imbalance in GABA, which assists in communicating the nerve cells in the brain. Any variations in GABA levels can cause mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. 

  • Conversely, Ketamine normalizes the imbalance of GABA by activating the brain’s opiate receptors (treating depression by making the person relaxed and free from pain). 

• Quiets Action In The Lateral Habenula

  • Ketamine has also an effect on the lateral habenula (another part of the brain) that normalizes different functions, such as behavior, pain, sleep, circadian cycle, and maternal instinct. Abnormal working of the lateral habenula can cause mental diseases like depression and the reason is that it triggers feelings of powerlessness and distress. 

  • In simple words, the lateral habenula gets over-burdened and generates negative feelings and thoughts when an individual is depressed. But, the good thing is that it is also treated through Ketamine. This medication resets this part of the brain and reduces depression.

The Final Thoughts:

Though Ketamine is used to treat mental diseases such as depression, keep in mind that it is highly addictive. High doses or frequent use of Ketamine can badly affect the brain, causing permanent damage or any serious brain injury. It is also proved by recent research that after the high dose of ketamine, the brain activity of the sheep halted. You can read this recent research by clicking here; Ketamine Experiment Reveals Brain Phenomenon Scientists Have 'Never Seen Before'.  

If you decide to utilize Ketamine therapy, be sure to work with an experienced and licenced office like Balance Ketamine in Chicago.