The Newest Big Pharma Addictive Prescription
If the opioid epidemic has taught us anything, it’s that over prescription of a drug can have lasting large-scale effects. With this in mind, you would probably think that a substance known to be recreationally abused would not be viewed as a good option for treating a mental disorder.
If you haven’t heard of Ketamine or “Special K” before, it is a club drug that causes an intense high and is often abused at clubs or raves. Additionally, the drug used to be more frequently used medically as an anesthetic. However, it was known to cause hallucinations and severe agitation and as a result was restricted to be used only in certain circumstances.
Now the drug is being looked at as a new prescription for depression. Along with this is the development of several Ketamine-like chemicals that are viewed as promising. Data on long-term medical use is hard to find on Ketamine since it has only ever been used medically as an anesthetic.
“The drug’s success has pharmaceutical companies excited about the possibility of creating a whole new class of drugs for depression…”
“The drug’s success has pharmaceutical companies excited about the possibility of creating a whole new class of drugs for depression”, Murrough says.
While medical information on prolonged use may be hard to find, it is easier to find the effects of long term abuse in street users. Long-term drug use can cause serious damage to the kidney and bladder. In more serious cases, it causes the person to have bloody urine or be unable to pass urine.
The other thing about Ketamine is that it is a depressant and can cause depressed breathing when abused. This is increasing likely when mixed with alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opiates. The overdose whether caused from over use or a mixture of drugs may cause the person to stop breathing and could possibly result in death.
How can Ketamine be the newest prescription to treat depression?
If you have a loved one who is abusing any medication or using street drugs, get them the help they need. Call us for a free assessment or referral.