Ketamine is a drug that has been around for decades, but it has recently become one of the most talked-about treatments in the world of neurology. This is partly because ketamine is showing promise as a treatment for depression and bipolar disorder. But it’s also because ketamine can be used as an alternative to opioids for treating pain caused by migraines and other neurological conditions. In this blog post, we’ll explore three reasons why your neurologist might recommend ketamine therapy:
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Ketamine is a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. In a recent study, researchers found that ketamine helped to improve memory and cognition in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The drug also appears to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease and may be useful in treating other neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), traumatic brain injury and stroke.[1]
Ketamine can also help reduce symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition where myelin – the protective sheath around nerve cells – becomes damaged or destroyed.[2]
Migraine And Headache Pain
Migraine is a common neurological condition. If you suffer from migraines, you may have experienced some of the following symptoms:
• Headache pain that can be severe and throbbing in nature
• Nausea or vomiting (for about 1 in 4 people)
• Sensitivity to light and sound
Migraine attacks can last for hours or days at a time, making it difficult to function normally in daily life. The good news is Dr Bruce Grossinger reports that ketamine has been shown to reduce both the intensity and duration of migraine attacks when taken intravenously over several weeks or months. In addition, ketamine has been shown to reduce the frequency of these painful episodes as well as reduce pain medication use during those episodes by up to 80%.
Depression, Bipolar Disorder And Suicide Prevention
Ketamine is an effective treatment for depression, Dr Bruce Grossinger bipolar disorder and suicidal ideation. It can be used as an add-on therapy to other treatments or as a stand-alone therapy.
Ketamine has been studied extensively and shown to be effective in helping people who are suffering from these conditions.