Side Effects Archives - Psychiatrist and Psychologist in San Diego | Ketamine Treatment in San Diego

Even More on Brain Zaps and Antidepressant Withdrawal

People outside the mainstream medical establishment continue to show interest in the phenomenon of brain zaps, while academia remains unconcerned. Brain Zaps Remain Underappreciated by the Psychaitrc Profession Brain zaps and…

The Risks of At-Home Ketamine: A Cautionary Perspective

All Posts, Ketamine, Side Effects

Introduction Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has shown promise in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD. Its rapid-acting therapeutic effects have made it an appealing option in clinical…

Exploring Ketamine Therapy Risks in Light of Matthew Perry’s Untimely Passing

All Posts, Ketamine, Side Effects

Matthew Perry, celebrated for his iconic role on "Friends," tragically passed away on October 28, 2023, after being found unresponsive at the heated end of his swimming pool. His live-in personal assistant discovered him upon returning from…

More on Brain Zaps

All Posts, Medications, Side Effects

The article mentioned in our January 2020 blog entry was followed by a more comprehensive work which was published in 2022 (Triggers and Characteristics of Brain Zaps According to the Findings of an Internet Questionnaire.) The study…

Cocaine and its Negative Side Effects

All Posts, Diagnoses & Conditions, Side Effects

As with other drugs, cocaine affects the nerve cells of the ventral segmental area, which extends into the nucleus accumbens, one of the reward centers of the brain. Cocaine acts as a reuptake inhibitor of dopamine, whose increased presence…

What is Biofeedback?

All Posts, Diagnoses & Conditions, Psychotherapy, Side Effects

Biofeedback is a therapeutic technique that uses technology/computers to help you become more aware of the subtle changes that occur in your body. Once you are more aware of them, you can control them better. How does Biofeedback…

What’s in your Genes?

All Posts, Medications, Side Effects

Carl was 47 years old when he first came to see me. He had his first depressive episode in his mid-twenties. It responded well to an antidepressant, which he continued to take even after he felt better. When he started to feel stressed out…

I Feel Better, Now What?

All Posts, Diagnoses & Conditions, Side Effects

Jack (a fictionalized name; real patient) was a married man in his mid fifties. He came to see me due to chronic depression, feeling down and lacking motivation, unable to enjoy pleasurable things, for some 20 years. His last therapist had…

When the Brain Buzzes: Understanding Zaps After SSRI Discontinuation

All Posts, Medications, Science, Side Effects

Known as 'brain zaps,' these perplexing phenomena are a fairly common yet poorly understood side effect of antidepressant discontinuation. Brain zaps are sensations perceived as electrical flashes occurring inside the brain, typically experienced…