The treatment is in the form of a nasal spray containing ketamine.
Technically, the anesthetic ketamine is not a hallucinogen because it is an antagonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. In other words, it blocks the receptor and does not cause an effect. Esketamine and its parent compound ketamine work via the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor in nerve cells. However, ketamine is referred to as a psychedelic drug by researchers at a behavioral level because it does cause feelings of dissociation (out-of-body experience) and distortions of time and space.
Psychedelic Science Review is working to bring cutting-edge science in the field of psychedelics to the public in the most accessible, thorough and accurate way possible. Join our communities on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram and share our content with your network to help us bring scientifically-backed information about psychedelics to the world.
NEW! Shop the PSR Supporter Store to show your support for psychedelic science.