Find Hope and Relief

Comprehensive Esketamine Treatment in Forsyth County, GA

At New Focus Addiction and Behavioral Health, we understand the challenges of living with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and the burden they can place on individuals and their loved ones. That’s why we are proud to offer SPRAVATO®, a groundbreaking prescription medicine that provides hope and relief for those struggling with TRD and depressive symptoms.

Call Us Today

How Ketamine Works: A Simple Explanation for Patients

Ketamine works differently from traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks or even months to start helping. Instead of just increasing serotonin like most antidepressants, ketamine targets a brain chemical called glutamate, which plays a major role in how brain cells communicate. Think of glutamate as the electricity of your brain. It helps different areas talk to each other. When you’re struggling with depression, PTSD, or chronic pain, those connections can become weak or damaged, making it harder for your brain to function the way it should. Ketamine helps your brain by strengthening these connections and encouraging new ones to form, almost like repairing a damaged circuit of a computer.

What makes ketamine unique is that it works very quickly, sometimes within hours or days, rather than weeks. Many patients report feeling lighter, more hopeful, and mentally clearer soon after treatment. For people with depression or suicidal thoughts, it can break the cycle of negativity, making it easier to engage in therapy and other treatments. In chronic pain conditions, ketamine interrupts pain signals, helping your brain modulate its pain response. While the effects aren’t permanent, a series of treatments can help retrain your brain to function in a healthier way, often with long-lasting improvements.

Indications for IV Ketamine Therapy

IV ketamine therapy is primarily indicated for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in patients who have not responded to conventional antidepressants. It is also used for major depressive disorder (MDD) with acute suicidal ideation, offering rapid symptom relief when immediate intervention is necessary. Beyond depression, ketamine has shown efficacy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), particularly in patients who have failed multiple first-line treatments. Ketamine is sometimes employed for opioid-resistant pain and refractory mood symptoms. While research is ongoing, ketamine is being explored as a potential intervention for bipolar depression, dissociative disorders, and in some rare cases certain Substance use disorders. Given its rapid-acting nature and unique mechanism, IV ketamine is an invaluable tool in psychiatric and pain management settings where traditional therapies have been insufficient.