Ketamine has been used safely in medicine for more than 50 years. Originally developed as an anesthetic, it’s now recognized as one of the most promising breakthroughs for mood disorders and chronic pain conditions. Unlike traditional antidepressants that may take weeks or months to work, ketamine often delivers rapid relief—sometimes within hours or days. Ketamine acts on the brain’s glutamate system, stimulating new neural connections and improving communication between brain regions responsible for mood and pain perception. This helps “reset” the brain’s response to stress, pain, and negative thought patterns, offering hope to patients who haven’t found relief through standard therapies.