Is it safe? As trusted and widely-used medicine, Ketamine was approved by the FDA in 1970 as an anesthetic and analgesic, and has been listed on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines since 1985. In the past decade, because of Ketamine safety profile, it has been prescribed off-label to treat and manage a wide range of mental health conditions.

The science: Chronic depression and anxiety can lead to changes in the brain, including atrophy in the cortical and limbic regions, which are important for regulating mood and emotions. Ketamine may help address these deficiencies, particularly those involving glutamate receptors.

By blocking receptors on GABA and glutamate neurons, ketamine enhances activity in the prefrontal cortex, leading to improved cognitive function, better impulse control, and enhanced emotional regulation.

Glutamate is a key neurotransmitter that influences mood, memory, and learning, through its modulation of dopamine systems and its regulation of overall dopamine levels in the brain.