Glossary Articles
Latest articles, insights, and updates from the blog.
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD): Definition, Criteria, and Significance for Ketamine
A definition of treatment-resistant depression — depression that fails to respond to adequate trials of standard antidepressants — and why it is the primary indication for ketamine therapy.
Synaptogenesis: How Ketamine Promotes New Synaptic Connections
A definition of synaptogenesis — the formation of new synapses — and an explanation of how ketamine rapidly triggers this process to produce antidepressant effects.
Sub-Anesthetic Dose: The Therapeutic Range for Ketamine in Depression
A definition of sub-anesthetic dosing — the low-dose ketamine range used to treat depression — including typical dosages, rationale, and how it differs from anesthetic use.
Schedule III Controlled Substance: Ketamine's DEA Classification Explained
A definition of Schedule III controlled substance status under the Controlled Substances Act, what it means for ketamine prescribing, and how it compares to other drug schedules.
Serotonin Syndrome: Risks, Symptoms, and Relevance to Ketamine Therapy
A definition of serotonin syndrome — a potentially dangerous condition caused by excess serotonergic activity — and its relevance to patients combining ketamine with SSRIs or other serotonergic medications.
Racemic Mixture: S-Ketamine and R-Ketamine Enantiomers Explained
A definition of racemic mixture in the context of ketamine therapy — explaining the S and R enantiomers, their different pharmacological profiles, and clinical implications.
Norketamine: Ketamine's Primary Metabolite Explained
A definition and detailed explanation of norketamine — the main metabolite produced when the body processes ketamine — including its pharmacological activity, clinical significance, and role in oral ketamine therapy.
NMDA Receptor
A comprehensive definition and explanation of the NMDA receptor — its role in the brain, its relevance to ketamine therapy, and why it matters for mental health treatment.
mTOR Pathway: Ketamine's Role in Protein Synthesis and Synaptic Growth
A definition of the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling pathway and its critical role in how ketamine promotes rapid synaptogenesis and antidepressant effects.
Neuroplasticity
What neuroplasticity means, how the brain rewires itself, and why neuroplasticity is central to understanding ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects.
Glutamatergic System: The Excitatory Signaling Network Behind Ketamine's Effects
An overview of the glutamatergic system — the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter network — and its central role in how ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects.
Glutamate: The Excitatory Neurotransmitter Central to Ketamine's Action
Understand glutamate, the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter, its role in neural signaling, and why it is fundamental to how ketamine works.
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