Depression Treatment in Westminster, CO

Physician-Led Depression Care Serving Westminster and North Denver

At Vitalitas, we understand how persistent depression can affect motivation, sleep, concentration, relationships, work, and the ability to keep up with everyday routines. At our Westminster clinic at 12110 North Pecos St, Suite 160, Westminster, CO 80234, we review your symptoms, mental health history, medications, previous treatment, safety factors, and goals before determining whether IV ketamine therapy may be appropriate for your care.

When Depression Remains Difficult to Manage

Depression, also called major depression or major depressive disorder, can cause persistent changes in mood, thinking, energy, and daily functioning. Depression is different from temporary sadness or a difficult period that gradually passes.

Depression symptoms may include:

• Persistent sadness, anxiety, or an empty mood

• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities

• Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

• Low energy or fatigue

• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

• Changes in sleep or appetite

• Irritability or restlessness

• Withdrawal from relationships or everyday responsibilities

Not everyone experiences depression in the same way. Symptoms vary in severity, duration, and how they affect daily life.

Depression treatment commonly includes psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, or a combination of approaches. When depression does not improve after trying at least two antidepressants without enough improvement, it may be described as treatment-resistant depression.

For patients whose symptoms remain difficult to manage despite previous care, another treatment approach may be worth considering.

IV Ketamine Therapy for Depression

At Vitalitas, we provide physician-led IV ketamine therapy for selected patients with depression that has not responded adequately to standard treatment.

Ketamine is FDA-approved as a general anesthetic. Its use for depression and other psychiatric conditions is off-label, meaning ketamine has not been FDA-approved specifically to treat depression. The FDA provides additional context on the current use of ketamine in emerging areas of therapeutic interest.

Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that affects the brain's glutamate system. This differs from the pathways targeted by many traditional antidepressant medications, and researchers have studied whether ketamine's effects on glutamate signaling may be therapeutically relevant for depression that has not responded to previous treatment.

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis examined randomized controlled trials of IV racemic ketamine and intranasal esketamine for depression and treatment-resistant depression. The review analyzed the two treatments separately and found that IV ketamine was associated with greater reductions in depression symptoms than control or placebo in the included studies. However, the overall quality of evidence was low, the number of studies was limited, and publication bias was high.

IV ketamine and intranasal esketamine are distinct treatments and should not be treated as interchangeable.

We approach ketamine accordingly. IV ketamine is not a cure for depression, and it does not replace psychotherapy, psychiatric care, antidepressant medication, or other treatment when those approaches remain appropriate. Instead, off-label IV ketamine may be considered for selected patients after careful evaluation.

Learn more about our broader approach to ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

Careful Screening and Physician-Led Ketamine Treatment

Having depression does not automatically mean ketamine therapy is appropriate. Treatment history, clinical stability, medications, safety factors, and your broader mental health care all matter when considering IV ketamine.

Before recommending treatment, we consider your:

• Depression symptoms and how they affect daily life

• Mental health and medical history

• Current medications

• Previous psychotherapy and medication treatment

• Clinical stability and safety factors

• Treatment goals and expectations

If IV ketamine treatment moves forward, our care model includes:

• Individualized planning based on your symptoms, history, previous care, and clinical needs

• Physician oversight throughout treatment

• Clinical monitoring of heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen level, and how you are feeling during the infusion

• Follow-up to review your response and guide future treatment decisions

• Care coordination with the clinician managing your mental health treatment when appropriate

Not everyone with depression will be a candidate for ketamine therapy. We believe careful screening, clear recommendations, and realistic expectations are essential parts of responsible care.