Ketamine could be a breakthrough to treat severe depression

HOUSTON - Millions of Americans suffer from depression that does not respond to medication. But for some, the drug Ketamine could be a breakthrough.

The drug been around for years, used in anesthesia and illegally as a "party drug." Now, Ketamine clinics are opening across the country, offering IV infusions to patients struggling with depression.

Ketamine got its start as an anesthesia medicine in the 1960s. It was used on the battlefields of the Vietnam War.

Ketamine at lower doses can help ease pain. This drug typically helps sedatives work and may help people need fewer addictive painkillers, like morphine after surgery or while caring for burns. Turning around severe depression can be daunting and can feel like a miracle, if it's lifted. Researchers are now studying whether Ketamine can help treat severe depression, such as in people who have tried other treatments or who are in the hospital and possibly suicidal.