Growing numbers of people in the UK have been able to access ketamine treatment for depression and bipolar disorder in the UK. Many people have found it to be a fast and effective treatment during their depressive episodes.

How Does Ketamine Help with Bipolar Disorder?

Ketamine is a fairly new treatment for bipolar disorder so we are still learning about the ways that it can affect our brains. The main effect of ketamine is that it binds to a particular receptor in our brains, which triggers the activation of certain molecules that enables our neurones to send signals to each other. However, other possible effects are also being investigated that may explain some of the benefits that ketamine can have for bipolar disorder.

Ketamine treatment is believed to be most effective for the depressive symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. It has proven to be particularly fast and effective at relieving suicidal thoughts in people with depression or bipolar disorder. It can also help with symptoms such as anger and anxiety that some people can experience as part of their bipolar disorder. Ketamine can have a dramatic impact on your mood and thought patterns so it can play a big role in your bipolar disorder treatment.

Benefits of Ketamine for Bipolar Disorder

Research has shown that ketamine can help with depressive symptoms, including those experienced as part of bipolar disorder. Ketamine treatment offers some significant advantages as a treatment for bipolar disorder that could make it a good choice for you:

• Ketamine treatment can be effective for some people who haven’t responded to other types of medication for bipolar disorder. It may be right for you if you have tried other treatments and haven’t found them helpful.
• The effects of ketamine are much faster than those of other medications such as antidepressants. You may be able to feel the effects right after your first treatment and some people will notice an improvement in their symptoms within minutes or hours of the treatment session.
• Side effects are rare when ketamine is delivered under safe and controlled conditions in a clinic. A low dose is used during medical infusions and you will be carefully monitored during and after the treatment. Ketamine is given as an intravenous infusion at the clinic, so you will be carefully supervised and cared for while you are taking the medication.

However, it is important to remember that medications such as ketamine can affect everyone differently. As with the other treatments that we provide for bipolar disorder, ketamine can be very effective for some people but isn’t always the best fit for everyone. Since ketamine is such a new treatment and we are still learning about it, your doctor might recommend trying some other treatment options first. If these don’t work for you, then ketamine could be a good option as part of your treatment plan. Make an appointment at the North London Psychiatry Practice to learn more about ketamine treatment and whether it could help with your bipolar disorder.