Are Ketamine and Psychedelic Treatments Safe?

Most people think of ketamine therapy for mental health conditions as being experimental and new. Today’s guest shares that ketamine has been successfully used for mental health conditions for over 20 years and for other medical purposes for decades. The discussion answers important questions like why we are so hesitant about this treatment option when we are so quick to embrace others. Join us as the CEO of Mindbloom tells us about a recent study showing that at-home ketamine therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression. “I think we've lumped a bunch of these illegal drugs or substances together. Some of them have been shown for a long time to have stunning and profound therapeutic benefits. Seemingly overnight, people have been starting to prescribe or use psychedelic therapies like ketamine therapy. There's that quote: An overnight success is ten years in the making. In this case, ketamine would be 20 years in the making. The first study on ketamine for depression was published in 2000. And since then, over 100 clinical studies have been published showing consistently the safety and efficacy of ketamine therapy for a range of mental health care issues.” ~Dylan Beynon To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Please note: Healthline content is strictly information and should not be considered medical advice. See a licensed medical professional for diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Our guest, Dylan Beynon is the Founder & CEO of Mindbloom — a mental health company that is transforming lives through psychedelic medicine, starting with ketamine therapy. A three-time founder, Dylan has been named a Top 25 Consumer HealthTech Executive and one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Psychedelics and received the Tony Hsieh Award for the innovative culture he built at Mindbloom. Mindbloom has been featured by the likes of the New York Times, Vogue, and Women's Health, and its clinicians facilitate over 100,000 ketamine therapy sessions annually. Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.