During the 1960’s-1970’s, antidepressant medications worked by boosting levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in one way or another. Since the 1980’s antidepressant medications have been by boosting levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in one way or another. See the pattern? If one of these meds didn’t work for you, you tried another one in that class or went to another class, but all working with these three same neurotransmitters.
In the last 10 years, scientists have been zoning in on a different neurotransmitter–glutamate, working on the NMDA receptor. Researchers think that increasing the levels of glutamate in the brain increases the level of proteins required for cell formation and growth. This improves cell signaling, synaptic plasticity, and circuitry. It also reverses neuronal brain cell death, and even increases neuronal growth.
In short, healthier nerve cells can now signal better, healthier moods. Depression is dramatically improved. And what boosts glutamate levels? Ketamine. Go to texasketaminespecialists.com or call us at (469) 844-1350 for more information on how this novel, research-supported drug is making waves in psychiatric research.
