Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a complex medical condition that causes harmful shifts in your thoughts, moods, and actions. Common depression symptoms include:

• Persistent sadness
• Feeling empty
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling worthless
• Feeling guilty
• Losing interest in the activities you usually enjoy
• Appetite and weight changes
• Sleep problems: insomnia or sleeping the day away
• Thinking of death often
• Suicidal ideation: thinking about or planning suicide

Your symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may fluctuate over time. But the important thing to know is that depression usually doesn’t go away without treatment. 

What causes depression?

Experts believe that genetics, environment, biology, and psychology may all contribute to depression. One thing is certain: depression is a real diagnosable illness that causes clear changes in the brain. 

People with depression experience changes in their brain neurotransmitters, the natural chemicals that can influence emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Additionally, evidence shows that many people with depression also have brain structure changes, such as loss of brain volume in certain areas and loss of important brain communication (neural) pathways. 

My antidepressant didn’t work. What should I do next? 

Many people come to Ketamine Health & Wellness Clinics of Ohio because their depression treatment didn’t work. If you’ve already tried a couple of antidepressants (or more) and aren’t seeing positive results, you could be a good candidate for ketamine. 

Ketamine is a medication that was originally used as an anesthetic. Recent research shows that it also has tremendously beneficial rapid effects for people with depression and other mental disorders. 

While antidepressants target specific neurotransmitters in the brain, ketamine works on a broad spectrum of neurotransmitters. Researchers believe that its effect on the glutamate transmitter that helps regulate mood is especially important. It also helps reconnect neural pathways. 

Intravenous ketamine infusions are available in the office. The practice also offers Spravato®, a derivative of ketamine that is administered through a nasal spray, along with ongoing adult psychiatry and psychiatric medication management. 

They’re the only ketamine practice in the Columbus area to have a psychiatrist on staff to closely supervise ketamine treatments. The team is 100% committed to making sure you have a comfortable experience so they continually monitor your vitals and are there to support you throughout the treatment. 

Antidepressants take weeks to work, and it’s common to cycle through multiple antidepressants to find the right one. Ketamine can take effect in only about 40 minutes. 

If you’re feeling hopeless about depression treatment, call Ketamine Health & Wellness Clinics of Ohio or book your appointment using online scheduling now.