Ketamine, first developed in the 1960s as an anesthetic, has progressively been found to treat the symptoms of depression, PTSD, chronic pain, and anxiety. The versatility of this drug does not stop here, as the use of ketamine to treat other conditions continues to expand.
Parkinson’s disease is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that primarily affects the motor system. Common symptoms include tremors, rigidity, difficulty walking, and dementia. Many Parkinson’s patients also experience depression and anxiety.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for this long-term disease, so the focus has largely been on helping patients manage their symptoms and finding ways to slow the progression. Because the disorder is associated with a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine, almost all people with Parkinson’s are eventually treated with levodopa. The downside of this medication is that when patients are treated long-term, they will develop a movement disorder known as levodopa-induced dyskinesia.
Recently, researchers found that patients with Parkinson’s, when given low-dose ketamine for pain relief, also experienced improvements with levodopa-induced dyskinesia. This relief was found to last several weeks after their treatment. It was also noted that ketamine has additional benefits for Parkinson’s patients, as it can treat depression which is a frequent comorbidity.
Out of this discovery has come two major milestones for continued research. The first is the FDA’s approval of PharmaTher’s Investigational New Drug application. This approval paves the way for the company to conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial on low-dose ketamine for Parkinson’s Disease. The second comes in the form of a $2 million grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. This was awarded to two Yale Department of Psychiatry researchers to conduct the first clinical trial of ketamine to treat depression in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Contact VIP Ketamine Clinics
Our Modesto, CA ketamine clinic offers ketamine infusions for a variety of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Our first priority is the emotional, mental and physical wellbeing of our patients. We will help point you in the direction of health and wellness, whatever direction that may be.