Major depressive disorder, or depression, is a serious but treatable mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and other symptoms that negatively impact mood and behavior.

According to the World Health Organization, depression affects approximately 280 million individuals globally. In the United States, depression impacts nearly 1 in 5 adults at some point in their lives. 

While depression can develop due to genetic and environmental factors, it is not due to personal weakness or a character flaw. If left untreated, symptoms can persist for weeks, months, or even years. The good news is that depression is a treatable condition. Conventional treatments include psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. A more recent approach is ketamine therapy, which research indicates can improve symptoms in individuals dealing with severe, treatment-resistant depression.

In this blog, we’ll explore how our integrative approach at Ballen Medical & Wellness, involving ketamine therapy for depression, can be highly beneficial for those in Denver, Colorado, facing the challenges of depression.

Antidepressants Aren’t Always Enough

While antidepressant medications have helped many individuals manage depression, they don’t work for everyone. It often takes weeks or months for antidepressants to take effect, during which time symptoms may actually worsen before improving. 

Many patients struggle with side effects from antidepressants like weight gain, fatigue, and emotional numbness. Sexual side effects are also common with some medications.

Even when antidepressants help reduce symptoms initially, their effects can diminish over time or stop working altogether. This leaves patients feeling hopeless, as they cycle through different medications that fail to provide consistent, lasting relief. This emotional rollercoaster of trial-and-error with antidepressants highlights the need for alternative treatments that can more directly and rapidly improve depressive symptoms.

Ketamine Therapy’s Different Approach For Alleviating Depression

Unlike traditional antidepressants that target serotonin, ketamine works through a different mechanism – blocking NMDA receptors and increasing glutamate activity in the brain. This process triggers the growth of new neural connections and improves communication between brain cells. Unlike the 4-6 week delay of SSRIs, ketamine provides rapid relief from depression symptoms within hours or days. 

In some cases, even a single intravenous infusion can cause depressive thinking patterns and ideation to lift for up to a week or more. This provides an immediate reprieve from emotional suffering, offering hope while longer term treatments continue to take effect. 

Instead of waiting weeks in a depressed state for antidepressants to work, ketamine delivers fast-acting results. By tapping into new pathways in the brain, ketamine provides a radically different approach to tackling severe or treatment-resistant depression.

Ballen Medical & Wellness provides an integrative approach to ketamine therapy in Denver that optimizes results. We understand that treating depression requires more than just prescribing ketamine infusions. As integrative mental health specialists with over 11 years of experience, we utilize ketamine as part of a holistic program tailored to each patient’s needs. 

We also provide psychotherapy, counseling, hormone and thyroid help, nutrient optimization, and other wellness services to support you on your journey toward mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Our integrative model works synergistically with ketamine to help you break free from depression and reclaim your joy.