Ketamine (known as Special K to you and me, I mean on the streets…) has been basically banned for human use as an anesthetic due to its hallucinogenic properties. Not only do you sleep through the major surgery, but you have a great time during it as well. It has been known for about 2 years that ketamine works as a great antidepressant, and almost instantly, compared with current antidepressant therapy, which can take 4-6 weeks to work. (Imagine how long it takes for you to order something on TV and not being happy until it arrived.)
Now, scientists have a better understanding of how ketamine works. It has been known that ketamine works against NMDA receptors in the brain, but now it has been discovered that they also work on a new kind of receptor, the AMPA receptor. If we could some how develop a drug that works against both the NMDA and more importantly the AMPA receptors without giving you such a great hallucinogenic trip, we may come up with a better antidepressant.
Of course, maybe it is the hallucinogenic effect itself that is causing the antidepressant effect…
Posted by Mooserx 