Is Ketamine Safer than Antidepressants? 5 Surprising Facts

Antidepressant Side Effects and Depression: Is there a Safer Alternative? 

Antidepressants are a class of medications that are used to treat depression. They work by increasing the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine.

There are five main classes of antidepressants:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. They work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood regulation. Examples of SSRIs include fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, and escitalopram.
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): SNRIs work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters that play a role in mood regulation. Examples of SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, and desvenlafaxine.
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): TCAs were the first class of antidepressants to be developed. They work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, three neurotransmitters that play a role in mood regulation. Examples of TCAs include amitriptyline, nortriptyline , and desipramine.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): MAOIs work by inhibiting the activity of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters. This leads to increased levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. Examples of MAOIs include phenelzine and tranylcypromine.
• Atypical antidepressants: Atypical antidepressants do not fit neatly into any of the other classes of antidepressants. They work by a variety of mechanisms, including blocking the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine; affecting other neurotransmitters; and modifying the way that neurotransmitters interact with receptors in the brain. Examples of atypical antidepressants include mirtazapine, bupropion, and trazodone.

Here is a table summarizing the different classes of antidepressants:

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all antidepressants available. There are many other antidepressants that are not included in this table. Talk to your doctor about the different classes of antidepressants and which one is right for you.

Antidepressants are generally safe and effective. However, they can also cause side effects, some of which are more common than others.

The most common side effects of antidepressants include:

• Sexual dysfunction: Some antidepressants can cause sexual dysfunction, such as decreased sex drive or difficulty achieving orgasm. Many people experience lowered libido, which is a decrease in sexual desire. Women can experience vaginal dryness which can be painful and disruptive to relationships
• Weight gain: Some antidepressants can cause weight gain. Antidepressants can increase appetite, decrease metabolism, and increase fluid retention. 
• Nausea and vomiting: These are the most common side effects of antidepressants. They usually go away on their own within a few weeks.
• Diarrhea: This is another common side effect of antidepressants. It usually goes away on its own within a few weeks.
• Dry mouth: This is a common side effect of many medications, including antidepressants. It usually goes away on its own.

Other side effects of antidepressants include:

• Headaches: Headaches are a common side effect of many medications, including antidepressants. They usually go away on their own.
• Insomnia: Some antidepressants can cause insomnia. This is usually mild and goes away on its own.
• Agitation: Some antidepressants can cause agitation. This is usually mild and goes away on its own.
• Mania: Mania is a rare but serious side effect of antidepressants. It is characterized by a sudden and dramatic increase in energy, activity, and mood. If you experience mania, you should contact your doctor immediately.

It is important to talk to your doctor about the side effects of antidepressants. They can help you decide if an antidepressant is right for you and can help you manage any side effects that you experience.

How is Ketamine Different?

1. Ketamine can heal the brain, repairing brain damage.  
2. Ketamine Infusions induce dissociations that help the mind process traumatic events
3. Ketamine is believed to restore memory, improve learning, and improve mood. 
4. Ketamine does not cause sexual dysfunction or weight gain. 
5. Ketamine has fewer side effects than antidepressants. 

Ketamine works by blocking the activity of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a receptor in the brain that is involved in the regulation of mood, cognition, and pain perception. NMDA receptors are involved in a process called "long-term potentiation," which is thought to be involved in learning and memory. Ketamine blocks NMDA receptors, which may lead to an increase in long-term potentiation and improve mood.

Ketamine also affects other receptors in the brain, including opioid receptors and AMPA receptors. Opioid receptors are involved in pain perception and reward, while AMPA receptors are involved in learning and memory. Ketamine's effects on these receptors may also contribute to its antidepressant effects.

The exact mechanism of action of ketamine is not fully understood. However, the research suggests that ketamine's antidepressant effects are due to a combination of its effects on NMDA receptors, opioid receptors, and AMPA receptors.

Does Ketamine Repair Brain Damage?

Short answer, yes. 

One of the mechanisms by which ketamine is thought to work is by promoting neural plasticity. Neural plasticity is the ability of the brain to change and adapt. This is important for learning and memory, but it is also important for recovery from mental health conditions such as depression.

Ketamine is thought to promote neural plasticity by blocking the NMDA receptor. The NMDA receptor is a type of receptor that is involved in learning and memory. When the NMDA receptor is blocked, it allows for new connections to be formed between neurons. This can lead to increased neuroplasticity and improved mood.

There is some evidence to support the role of ketamine in promoting neural plasticity. For example, one study found that ketamine treatment increased the number of dendritic spines in the hippocampus, a brain region that is involved in learning and memory. Dendritic spines are small protrusions on neurons that help to transmit signals between neurons.

Another study found that ketamine treatment increased the expression of BDNF, a protein that is involved in neural plasticity. BDNF is thought to be important for the growth and survival of neurons.

Overall, the evidence suggests that ketamine may promote neural plasticity. This could be one of the mechanisms by which ketamine works to improve mood. However, more research is needed to confirm this finding.

Here are some of the studies that have investigated the role of ketamine in neural plasticity:

• A study published in the journal Nature Medicine found that ketamine treatment increased the number of dendritic spines in the hippocampus of mice.
• Another study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, found that ketamine treatment increased the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus of mice.
• A study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology found that ketamine treatment improved cognitive function in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Is Ketamine Safer than Antidepressants?

As mentioned in the article, ketamine has fewer side effects than traditional antidepressants. In particular, ketamine is less likely to cause weight gain and sexual dysfunction. 

If you are looking for a depression treatment that doesn’t cause sexual side effects, call Allay today to see if Ketamine is right for you. And if you are looking to treat your depression without weight gain, call Allay. 

Overall, the side effects of ketamine are generally milder than the side effects of traditional antidepressants. However, it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of both ketamine and traditional antidepressants before making a decision about which treatment is right for you