top of page
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Ketamine Treatment for Bipolar Depression

Updated: Nov 19, 2023

Christopher Fischer, MD, board-certified psychiatrist

woman sitting in the ketamine therapy waiting room

The use of ketamine treatments for bipolar depression is an area of ongoing research and clinical need. Ketamine has shown promise as a rapid-acting antidepressant in studies, and this has led researchers to explore its potential for various mood disorders, including bipolar depression.


Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of depression and mania (or hypomania). Standard treatments for bipolar depression often include mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and other medications. However, some individuals may not respond adequately to these conventional treatments for the depression phase of the illness.


The main concern of ketamine treatment for bipolar depression is the risk of inducing a manic episode. Although there is a potential increased risk for symptoms of mania, research suggests that these symptoms typically tend to resolve within 1 to 2 hours of the infusion. Ensuring that a patient with bipolar disorder is on a mood stabilizer or a neuroleptic prior to starting treatment would decrease risk of inducing mania. A metanalysis showed that treatment emergent mania did not occur more frequently in the active treatment group compared to a group receiving a placebo. Patients with bipolar disorder seeking treatment with ketamine should be carefully evaluated and monitored by a psychiatrist prior to initiation of treatment.



Reference/further reading:


Walsh, Z., Mollaahmetoglu, O., Rootman, J., Golsof, S., Keeler, J., Marsh, B., . . . Morgan, C. (2022). Ketamine for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: Comprehensive systematic review. BJPsych Open, 8(1), E19. doi:10.1192/bjo.2021.1061

 
 
 

Comments


Propel Therapeutics - ketamine infusions for chronic pain and depression and PTSD and anxiety

Providing Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Ketamine Infusions In Sacramento, California

Location

Propel Therapeutics

1010 Hurley Way, Suite 140

Sacramento, CA 95825

 

Serving Sacramento, West Sacramento, Arden, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Bay Area, San Francisco, Davis, Vacaville, Tahoe, El Dorado Hills, Folsom and Granite Bay

Hours: Monday 9am - 7pm, Tuesday 9am - 7pm, Wednesday 9am - 7pm, Thursday 9am - 7pm, Friday 9am - 7pm and some Saturdays by appointment only

© 2024 by PROPEL THERAPEUTICS

bottom of page