What is Ketamine Infusion Therapy?
Touted as an effective treatment for depression, ketamine infusion therapy is seen as a more potent form of antidepressant medication. While the efficacy of ketamine infusion therapy is supported by the FDA, it is not typically the first-line treatment for psychiatric disorders. Generally, ketamine infusion therapy is used to alleviate depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety when traditional methods and medications fail. Some of the conditions we treat with ketamine infusion therapy include chronic pain, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and major depressive disorder.
How Does Ketamine Infusion Therapy Work?
Similar to antidepressants, ketamine helps manage the adverse effects of psychiatric disorders. Unlike antidepressants, this pain treatment is fast-acting and exponentially more powerful. What’s more, it’s believed to repair damage to the brain, whereas SSRI medications correct serotonin deficiencies. By targeting NMDA receptors in the brain, ketamine infusion therapy increases glutamate activity, which activates connections in the AMPA receptor.
Together, NMDA and AMPA release molecules that promote new pathways of communication between neurons. This intricate process is called synaptogenesis, and it impacts cognition, thought patterns, and moods. Ketamine infusion therapy also works by suppressing signals that trigger inflammation. Inflammation is the primary culprit for mood disorders, making ketamine infusion therapy highly effective. By reducing inflammation, different areas of the brain communicate more efficiently. These anti-inflammatory properties and synaptogenesis work in tandem, resulting in lessened anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Ketamine IV Infusion
Racemic ketamine is administered intravenously through the arm, and it goes directly into a patient’s bloodstream, allowing it to take effect immediately. To ease a patient into this pain treatment, a series of infusions is administered over multiple weeks.
What to Expect After Your Treatment
After your first several infusions, you can expect to experience some side effects. Some patients become drowsy and dizzy. Others may lose their appetite or have blurred vision. Nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, sleep disturbances, and high blood pressure are other potential side effects. Fortunately, these symptoms are often mild, and they become less severe as the treatment progresses.
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Why Consider Ketamine Infusion Therapy?
If you have long suffered from chronic pain, anxiety and depression, ketamine infusion therapy may offer the relief you have been looking for. It is also a viable option for those who have been unresponsive to standard medication. Both patients and researchers have reported positive results, proving that ketamine infusion therapy is a productive secondary treatment option.
To ensure that you are receiving the appropriate treatment, it is best to talk with a professional. We provide you with the necessary insight so that you can make an informed decision while receiving the treatment you need. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of ketamine infusion therapy, the conditions we treat, or our areas of expertise, contact us today.
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