Does Ketamine Have Anti-Aging Properties?

Ketamine is a type of anesthetic that is often given to children and the elderly because it does not affect the cardiovascular system like other anesthetics. It has recently been gaining popularity for its usage in treating depression by blocking NMDA receptors. 

However, there have been recent studies suggesting that ketamine can promote healing for patients with damaged tissue, regenerate cells, treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. And now it seems there might be another purpose for this drug – anti-aging properties!

Much of the research on ketamine has focused on its ability to treat depression, however, some studies are exploring other possible benefits including anti-aging properties. 

The first thing we need to ask is what constitutes aging? 

It can be defined as a process that causes physical and mental deterioration. In order to understand if ketamine has any effects against this process, we must know how it works in the body, says ketaminetherapyhq.com

Ketamine affects receptors in your brain which are responsible for controlling mood and memory–this means that it could affect more than just depression but also age-related cognitive decline (e.g., dementia). However, very little is known about whether these changes actually slow down the aging process. 

Does It Have Any Anti-Aging Properties?

The mechanism behind this is not yet fully understood, but researchers are currently studying how NMDA receptors play a crucial role in inducing cellular changes that lead to regeneration. It has also been suggested that these changes may occur quite rapidly–in as little as two hours after administration of ketamine to humans.

Another thing that can be tested for anti-aging properties is whether or not it slows down or reverses some aspects of the aging process itself (e.g., reduce wrinkles). However, this has not been tested with ketamine yet – so we are left to speculate over whether it could be helpful against signs of aging. 

The studies that have been conducted on the effects of NMDA blockers in relation to skin suggest the possibility of improving the appearance of aged skin. Skin cells called keratinocytes change with age and cause certain characteristics associated with old or aged skin including wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and discoloration. 

The expression level of a gene that is involved in the production rate for new cells (collagen) decreases as we get older—this causes us to lose collagen and leads to sagging facial features. However, some researchers believe that fewer NMDA receptors mean more collagen production because these receptors lead to more collagen breakdown. 

This suggests that if NMDA receptors are blocked by ketamine, then the production of collagen will increase. This provides some evidence for the possibility that ketamine could be used to treat aging skin because increased production of collagen results in younger-looking and plumper skin. 

It is likely that further testing will need to be conducted before we can determine whether or not anti-aging properties exist with ketamine. It seems as though future research may also test out new methods for using this drug for cosmetic purposes—but other anti-aging effects like reducing age-related damage or increasing healing rates will have to wait until more studies are conducted on rats! 

What Are The Effects Of Ketamine?

Ketamine is the most widely used surgical anesthetic in veterinary practice, and it has also been used increasingly over the past decade for chronic pain management (particularly complex regional pain syndrome) and acute trauma care. 

In small doses, this drug can produce effects similar to a hallucinogenic trip, but these effects are often blurred by other side effects that could be bad trips. As the dose increases things can get real interesting fast. 

Ketamine can have a vast effect on the mind and body. It has been used for over forty years in medical settings. 

More research is being done now on ketamine infusions and the effects of using this drug recreationally. Studies are showing that when administered correctly, ketamine can bring people into completely different states of consciousness with a single dose. 

These experiences range from profound psychedelic journeys to spiritual awakenings, introspection, therapeutic revelation, and life-changing insights.

The anesthetic was developed by Parke Davis in 1962 and is currently manufactured by Pfizer (US) and Mylan Laboratories (India).  

This drug has no relation to phencyclidine which is more commonly referred to as PCP or angel dust. For those who have used this street drug, ketamine is a completely different experience and much more pleasant, in most cases.

It can be administered intravenously or orally and acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist but has many other effects that are being studied.

The drug’s mechanism of action on the central nervous system makes it a popular choice for many people seeking treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain management.  

One study reported that seventy percent of patients with treatment-refractory depression showed sustained beneficial response to low doses (0.5 mg/kg) of intramuscularly administered ketamine hydrochloride over time periods ranging from twelve days to nine months. 

Are There Any Drawbacks Associated With Ketamine Use?

The side effects associated with ketamine use are fairly few and far between – in fact, there is no data currently available to show that ketamine use has any long-term negative side effects.

Ketamine was shown to have neurotoxic qualities in rats over extended periods of time, however, the same tests were not done on humans for ethical reasons, or even with other animals (mice or monkeys). 

This test, which was conducted by Wong et al., concluded: “…suggesting possible abuse liability of chronic administration of high doses.” However further tests revealed that this was only true if the rats were actually addicted to ketamine. 

This shows two very important things:

1) Ketamine does not cause any long-term side effects if it’s used responsibly 

2) Ketamine is not addictive in any form, even if it is injected continuously for 10 days straight. 

The drawback to Ketamine use would be the short life span of its effects (less than an hour when taken orally) and the high cost of maintaining a constant supply from Asia – which can range from $1-4/dose depending on where you’re purchasing.