Ketamine Therapy for Bipolar Disorder: A New Hope

Medically Reviewed by Mark Hrymoc, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, double-board certified in General & Addiction Psychiatry

Bipolar disorder is a complex and often debilitating mental health condition marked by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and behavior. While traditional medications like mood stabilizers and antipsychotics can be effective for many, a significant number of individuals still struggle with treatment-resistant symptoms—particularly the depressive phase. Now, ketamine therapy is emerging as a new hope for those battling bipolar disorder.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects nearly 2.8% of U.S. adults annually and can take several forms, including Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymia. The depressive episodes in bipolar disorder can be just as severe—or more so—than those seen in unipolar depression. These episodes often come with profound fatigue, hopelessness, and in some cases, suicidal ideation.

Despite the availability of medications like lithium, valproate, lamotrigine, and atypical antipsychotics, many individuals continue to experience persistent or breakthrough symptoms. That’s where ketamine therapy may offer a lifeline.

What Is Ketamine Therapy?

Originally developed as an anesthetic, ketamine has, in recent years, been repurposed as a fast-acting antidepressant—especially for those who haven't responded to conventional treatments. Unlike typical mood medications that take weeks to take effect, ketamine can offer relief within hours to days.

Ketamine works differently from standard antidepressants: it modulates the glutamate system instead of monoamine neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Specifically, it blocks NMDA receptors and boosts AMPA receptor activity, promoting neuroplasticity and repairing damaged neural circuits (Zanos & Gould, 2018).

Ketamine Therapy for Bipolar Depression

Why Traditional Treatments Fall Short

Most medications for bipolar disorder are designed to stabilize mood or prevent manic episodes. But treating bipolar depression is more difficult. Antidepressants can sometimes worsen symptoms or trigger mania, which makes their use risky in bipolar patients.

That’s where ketamine therapy for bipolar disorder shows promise.

Research indicates that ketamine can significantly reduce depressive symptoms in individuals with bipolar disorder—often without triggering manic episodes when carefully monitored (Diazgranados et al., 2010). It offers a rapid-response treatment option, especially useful for those in crisis.

Key Benefits of Ketamine Therapy in Bipolar Disorder

1. Rapid Symptom Relief While traditional medications may take weeks, ketamine can alleviate depressive symptoms in hours to days—a critical window for those experiencing severe depression or suicidal ideation (Wilkinson et al., 2018).

2. Effective for Treatment-Resistant Cases Studies have shown that ketamine is effective even in individuals who have not responded to multiple medication regimens (Singh et al., 2016).

3. Neuroplasticity and Brain Repair Ketamine helps "rewire" the brain, enhancing neuroplasticity and synaptic connections in key areas involved in mood regulation (Zanos & Gould, 2018).

4. Minimal Risk of Inducing Mania When administered in a controlled setting and paired with mood stabilizers, ketamine does not appear to provoke mania, making it a safe option for many individuals with bipolar disorder (Diazgranados et al., 2010).

How Ketamine Is Administered

At the Ketamine Therapy Center in Los Angeles, treatments are delivered in a medically supervised environment by experienced doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals. Ketamine is administered through:

• IV Infusion

• Intramuscular (IM) Injection

• Nasal Spray (Esketamine/Spravato)

Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual, ensuring the safest and most effective approach to care.

Other Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder

Although ketamine is an exciting development, it’s just one part of a comprehensive treatment strategy. Other common options include:

• Mood Stabilizers (e.g., lithium, valproate)

• Atypical Antipsychotics (e.g., quetiapine, lurasidone)

• Psychotherapy (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family-Focused Therapy)

• Lifestyle Interventions (sleep regulation, exercise, diet)

• Emerging Supplements like Omega-3s and N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), which may help stabilize mood in some individuals (Berk et al., 2014; Grosso et al., 2014)

Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and continues to struggle with depression despite medication and therapy, ketamine mental health therapy could be an option worth exploring.

At the Ketamine Therapy Center in Los Angeles, our team is dedicated to providing cutting-edge, evidence-based care. We combine medical expertise with compassionate support to guide you through every step of your healing journey.

Take the First Step

Ketamine Therapy Center offers ketamine therapy in IV, IM, and Spravato nasal spray formats. Each patient receives a personalized treatment plan developed by a team of psychiatrists, therapists, and registered nurses. Our goal is to create a safe, nurturing space where real healing can happen.

Call us today at 310-601-9999 or visit our website to schedule a consultation. Relief could be closer than you think.

References

• Berk, M., Dean, O. M., Cotton, S. M., et al. (2014). The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine as an adjunctive treatment in bipolar depression: An open label trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 157, 24–29.

• Diazgranados, N., Ibrahim, L., Brutsche, N. E., et al. (2010). Rapid resolution of suicidal ideation after a single infusion of an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist in patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 71(12), 1605–1611.

• Grosso, G., Galvano, F., Marventano, S., et al. (2014). Omega-3 fatty acids and depression: Scientific evidence and biological mechanisms. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2014.

• Singh, J. B., Fedgchin, M., Daly, E. J., et al. (2016). Intravenous Esketamine in Adult Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Double-Blind, Double-Randomization, Placebo-Controlled Study. Biological Psychiatry, 80(6), 424–431.

• Wilkinson, S. T., Ballard, E. D., Bloch, M. H., et al. (2018). The Effect of a Single Dose of Intravenous Ketamine on Suicidal Ideation: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(2), 150–158.

• Zanos, P., & Gould, T. D. (2018). Mechanisms of ketamine action as an antidepressant. Molecular Psychiatry, 23(4), 801–811.