Ketamine administered via IV at New York clinic
Victor Llorente/New York Times/Redux/eyevine
Prince Harry, who caused an uproar in the press last year, wrote candidly in his memoirs: spare About taking ketamine to cope with his mother's death. He's not the only one talking about this substance. The substance was previously known primarily as a tranquilizer for horses and a psychedelic rave drug. It's hard to keep track of the many celebrities who have openly talked about taking ketamine to improve their mental health.
Hundreds of clinics have opened across the United States offering intravenous infusions of the drug at point of care, a trend now extending to the United Kingdom. Pioneering companies concerned about the mental health of their employees are beginning to offer this therapy as a benefit. Some companies even floated the idea of setting up ketamine clinics at their headquarters. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are developing over-the-counter ketamine products such as lozenges and topical creams. This drug has become the most commonly available psychedelic therapy.
This may sound like good news, given the growing evidence that ketamine can treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction. However, its use in the treatment of mental health conditions is still novel and many uncertainties remain. Possibly influenced by its popularity as a therapeutic agent, illicit use is also on the rise.
All of this means it's time to ask whether ketamine can really relieve mental health problems, how it works, and are there any risks to its newfound popularity? is. Psychiatrist…
