Glossary Articles
Latest articles, insights, and updates from the blog.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): The Brain's Primary Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
A definition of GABA — the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter — and its relationship to ketamine's mechanism of action and therapeutic effects.
Esketamine: The S-Enantiomer Behind Spravato
A glossary entry on esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine marketed as Spravato, covering its pharmacology, FDA approval, and clinical significance.
First-Pass Metabolism: How Liver Processing Affects Oral Ketamine
A definition of first-pass metabolism — the hepatic processing that reduces oral drug bioavailability — and its specific impact on oral ketamine formulations.
Enantiomer: Definition and Relevance to Ketamine
A definition of enantiomers — mirror-image molecular forms — and their critical importance in understanding ketamine's two forms: esketamine (S-ketamine) and arketamine (R-ketamine).
Dissociation
What dissociation means in the context of ketamine therapy — its clinical definition, how it manifests during treatment, and its potential relationship to therapeutic outcomes.
Default Mode Network: How Ketamine Disrupts Depressive Thought Patterns
An explanation of the default mode network (DMN), its role in rumination and depression, and how ketamine modulates DMN activity to relieve depressive symptoms.
Bioavailability: Understanding Ketamine Absorption by Route
A clear explanation of bioavailability and how it varies across ketamine administration routes — IV, IM, intranasal, sublingual, and oral — and why it matters.
Compounding Pharmacy: Custom Ketamine Formulations Explained
A definition of compounding pharmacy — a specialized pharmacy that prepares customized medications — and its essential role in making ketamine available in oral, sublingual, and other non-standard formulations.
BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor): Definition and Role in Ketamine Therapy
Learn what BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) is, how it supports brain health, and why it is central to ketamine's rapid antidepressant mechanism.
Arketamine (R-Ketamine): The Promising Enantiomer Under Investigation
Learn about arketamine (R-ketamine), the less-studied enantiomer of ketamine showing promise as a next-generation antidepressant with fewer side effects.
AMPA Receptor: Its Role in Ketamine's Antidepressant Effect
A glossary entry on the AMPA receptor, explaining what it is, how it functions, and why its activation is essential to ketamine's rapid antidepressant mechanism.
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