Ketamine for Mental Health Treatment

Ketamine works differently from traditional antidepressants by targeting the brain’s glutamatergic system instead of serotonin. As an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine increases the availability of glutamate, which in turn stimulates AMPA receptors and activates the mTOR pathway. This cascade promotes the rapid formation of new neural connections, especially in areas responsible for mood regulation, such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These changes are associated with fast-acting relief from symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mood disorders—often within hours of a single infusion.