Ketamine: Benefits and Risks for Depression, PTSD & Neuroplasticity
In this episode, I explain how ketamine causes rewiring of brain circuits and dissociative states to relieve symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
August 7, 2023
1 hr 39 min
136
Full
156 of 417
Episode 136 · August 7, 2023
Ketamine: Benefits and Risks for Depression, PTSD & Neuroplasticity
0:00 / 1:39:56
Excerpt playback isn’t available for this episode — use the full-episode link.
Search the Record
Moment search isn’t open for this episode yet
When it opens, you’ll be able to type any phrase and jump straight to the second it was said.
Andrew Huberman Episodes Around August 7, 2023
Episode 156 of 417 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
Ketamine: Benefits and Risks for Depression, PTSD & Neuroplasticity
Summary
In this episode, I explain how ketamine causes rewiring of brain circuits and dissociative states to relieve symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I explain how ketamine impacts both the brain’s glutamate and its endogenous opioid pathways, which together regulate mood and well-being. I discuss how ketamine therapy is used clinically to treat major depression, bipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suicidality and other psychiatric challenges. I also describe how ketamine causes the subjective effects of dissociation and euphoria and, at higher doses, is an anesthetic. I compare the different routes of ketamine administration, dosages and forms of ketamine, and if micro-dosing ketamine is effective. I also highlight the potential risks of recreational ketamine use (and the colloquial term ‘K-holes’). This episode should interest anyone interested in ketamine, treatments for depression, neuroplasticity mechanisms, psychiatry and mental health.
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Ketamine
(00:02:46) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up
(00:05:13) Ketamine & PCP; Clinical & Recreational Use
(00:09:00) Depression & Current Treatments
(00:15:17) Preclinical Models of Depression & Ketamine; “Learned Helplessness”
(00:22:11) Ketamine & Clinical Uses; Depression & Suicidality
(00:28:32) Ketamine & Other Psychiatric Challenges; Relief & Durability
(00:33:40) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)
(00:34:29) NMDA Receptor & Neuroplasticity
(00:41:36) Excitatory & Inhibitory Communication, Seizure, NMDA Receptors & Ketamine
(00:48:26) How Ketamine Functions in Brain; Acute & Long-Term Effects
(00:55:36) Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) & Ketamine Therapy
(01:03:40) Ketamine & Opioid Pathway
(01:10:00) Divergent Mechanisms of Immediate & Long-Term Effects
(01:15:45) Habenula, Pro-Depressive Behaviors & Ketamine Therapy
(01:20:36) Ketamine & Context-Dependent Strategy; Reward Pathway
(01:22:45) Dissociative States
(01:26:04) Doses & Routes of Administration; “K-holes”; Risk & Caution
(01:32:25) Ketamine Forms; R-, S- vs R/S- Ketamine; Micro-Dosing