Ketamine, referred to on the street as Special K, is a general anesthetic and hallucinogen that takes about 30 to 45 minutes to take effect, and while it varies from person to person, it lasts for approximately eight hours. It first became popular as a party and clubbing drug in the 1960’s, and became increasingly popular as years went on. It began to spread widely in 2003 and was classified as a class C drug in 2005, with a hefty sentencing of 14 years if one is caught supplying the drug, and a maximum of two years if caught in possession of the drug. It has also been used as a date rape drug.
Recently, studies put forth by Yale, Mount Sinai and the National Institute of Mental Health are producing evidence that the drug that in the past has been dangerous and been reported to cause memory loss, may in fact be a breakthrough in treating severe depression, especially in those people that have had not previously had success with therapy and/or antidepressants and other treatments for various types of depression. Not only that, but the symptoms of depression seem to dissipate for patients only hours after taking the drug, whereas antidepressants are known to become effective (if at all) weeks after the first dose and carry numerous harmful side effects.
Companies are hoping that a drug that has been created, called GLYX-13 will work with Special K, but take away side effects so that patients will not experience the hallucinogenic or dangerous side of the drug. Though there are hopes of getting the drug approved by 2019, Psychologists are saying there needs to be more studies to offer it as more than a clinical trial drug, such as studies to show what the long term effects might be for those who use it, which at the time is unknown.
Dennis Hartman, a 48 year old businessman from Seattle spoke to the New York Times about his experience with new drug that is being offered by some doctors, off-label, as a treatment for depression either taken orally or by injections. Hartman had had a lifelong battle with depression and had even chosen a date to end his life before hearing about the clinical trials for the new drug. He travels to New York every two months for infusions of Ketamine costing approximately $300 and rarely covered by insurance, and claims that his severe depression has completely lifted and his battle has ended.
Due to his success with the drug, which is administered safely by doctors, he created the Ketamine Advocacy Network to spread the word and help others who may have shared his lifelong battle and are out of answers. While the study of this drug is still in the early stages, psychologists are hopeful that this may be the answer for those who have been unable to get the help they need for their depression. Roughly half of all of those who entered the Special K clinical trials have reported that their symptoms have all but vanished.
By: Lauren DiDonato