Mark’s journey with ketamine therapy for his complex PTSD was going swimmingly until his provider got a surprise visit from the DEA and stopped prescribing. Mark feared his symptoms would make a dramatic comeback, so he hotfooted it to Mexico and started on Prozac, which, as we all know, is as speedy as a snail on a lazy Sunday. Luckily, he quickly found a ketamine provider, and lozenges were delivered to his doorstep, like a pizza but for mental health.
Ketamine isn’t stamped with the FDA’s seal of approval for PTSD, but it’s the reigning off-label champ for depression, with a few success stories—oh, and some concerns. Enter Matthew Perry’s unfortunate demise, spotlighting ketamine’s risks. Now, the DEA is eyeing doctors who hand out ketamine like candy, drawing parallels to the opioid saga. Experts fret that too much regulation could leave mental health patients in the lurch.
While ketamine’s primary gig is as an anesthesia super-secret agent, it’s moonlighting in mental health. Spravato gets an official thumbs-up, but off-label adventures usually aren’t insurance’s cup of tea, creating a data desert on prescriptions and safety. Its abuse potential is a mosquito next to the opioid elephant, but reports of its naughty behavior are creeping up. In 2023, ketamine was the third wheel in 0.5% of overdose deaths, often mingling with other substances. Misuse might lead to dependency and organ drama.
Though safer than its opioid cousins, ketamine can be a wild child when unregulated. Celebrity cases like Matthew Perry’s and Elijah McClain’s highlight its risks. The DEA is cracking down on rogue ketamine operations, with telehealth adding both convenience
Published Date: 2024-11-17