Ketamine: Why It's a Game-Changer for Patients with PTSD

While traditional post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments like therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have helped some, many patients still grapple with persistent symptoms.

Enter ketamine therapy, a revolutionary treatment transforming the way we manage PTSD.

At Holistic Behavioral & TMS Therapy in Aurora and Chicago, Illinois, and Las Vegas, Nevada, Babatunde Ogundipe, MD, and our expert team have had promising success with ketamine therapy. Here’s what you need to know about ketamine for PTSD.

How ketamine therapy works

Ketamine isn’t a new drug; it has been used as an anesthetic for decades. However, low doses have some surprising benefits in mental healthcare.

Unlike traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to show results, ketamine acts fast. It targets NMDA receptors in your brain and helps form new neural pathways. This rewiring alleviates the brain dysfunctions that contribute to PTSD symptoms like intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and mood instability.

But ketamine’s impact goes beyond this technical aspect. By improving neuroplasticity, it helps your brain recover from and adapt to trauma.

What makes ketamine therapy a game-changer?

We don’t use the term “game-changer” lightly. Here are some facts to back up our claim about ketamine therapy:

Ketamine relieves symptoms quickly

Many patients report better moods and fewer symptoms within hours to days of their first session. Compared to standard SSRIs, which can take weeks or months to work, this immediate effect can be life-saving.

Ketamine works when other treatments don’t 

If you’ve tried antidepressants or psychotherapy for PTSD with no change, ketamine provides hope. Studies show significant improvements in PTSD symptoms even in patients with long-standing, treatment-resistant cases.

Ketamine rewires your brain

Ketamine helps regenerate neural connectivity in the areas of your brain affected by trauma, such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Instead of masking your symptoms, it restores emotional control and calms fearful responses.

Ketamine works and plays well with others

Ketamine therapy doesn’t have to stand alone. It works well with psychotherapy and other treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

How ketamine compares to traditional PTSD treatments 

No single PTSD treatment is right for everyone. Traditional therapies work well for many people, but not for all. Here’s how ketamine compares to two traditional approaches.

SSRIs and SNRIs 

SSRIs and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the FDA-approved medications for PTSD. While they help some patients, they often have side effects, limited success, and long response times. Studies suggest that remission rates for SSRIs hover around a modest 30%.

Psychotherapy 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are foundational to PTSD care. However, these therapies often require a long-term commitment and may not work for everyone, particularly those with severe symptoms or treatment-resistant PTSD.

Ketamine acts faster and can modify brain pathways. It’s not necessarily a replacement, but it’s a powerful addition to the PTSD treatment toolkit.

How effective is ketamine therapy for PTSD?

Research from multiple clinical trials has demonstrated that ketamine therapy can:

• Reduce PTSD symptoms like intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and hypervigilance
• Deliver noticeable improvement within 24-48 hours for many patients
• Complement psychotherapy

For instance, a 2024 meta-analysis published in Clinical Neuropsychiatry found significant improvements in PTSD test scores among patients treated with ketamine. It also showed that combining ketamine with therapy amplified these effects.

You can experience these benefits firsthand, too. To determine if you’re a good candidate for ketamine therapy, call Holistic Behavioral & TMS Therapy or schedule an appointment online today.