What Is Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

You’ve likely heard about ketamine, but the key takeaway is that it’s a medicine that can help reduce mental and physical suffering if you haven’t found therapy or medicine that works for your condition.

What Is Ketamine?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Ketamine is a versatile medicine and possibly the most widely used anesthetic in the world. It is listed as an essential medicine, meaning that it should be available at all times in adequate amounts for health care needs. It was added to the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines in 1985 and is also on the Model List of Essential Medicines for Children.” Its original use was for anesthesia.

What is ketamine used for?

Ketamine’s original purpose was for anesthesia in pre-and post-surgical settings. Over the past 60 years, researchers have discovered that its unique psychotropic properties can reduce symptoms associated with mental illness (such as major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse addictions, and many others). 

The medicine also has been used to treat discomfort related to chronic and other pain conditions, possibly caused by illness, injury, medication, or another physical ailment.

What is ketamine infusion treatment?

Ketamine infusion therapy includes the supervision of a single infusion or multiple infusions to control physical pain and psychiatric disorders. The medicine is delivered intravenously by trained personnel at a licensed ketamine clinic near you. Most public and private insurance companies typically don’t cover the cost of infusion.

How long does treatment last?

The duration of ketamine infusion depends on many factors, but it typically takes several hours. According to the University of Utah Health, “a very low dose of ketamine infused over one hour have had dramatic positive effects on clinical depression, especially towards suicidal feelings and in cases that don’t respond to standard treatment. The results show a pretty immediate resolution of depression, immediately or in a few hours.”

In most cases, relief of symptoms may last from a few hours to a few weeks, but the success rate depends on many factors such as overall health, gender, and age.

The right candidate for treatment

Patients undergo rigorous screening using many tests and procedures to decide if their condition merits treatment. Ketamine infusion treatment may be a helpful therapy for patients experiencing depression who haven’t received positive results from antidepressant medications or medicine to treat conditions like chronic pain.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association recommends ketamine for:

• Adults experiencing “moderate to severe depression.”
• People diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
• People experiencing personality disorders and who can handle infusions and other therapy.

Final thoughts

The truth is, you’ve suffered long enough. Your depression, anxiety, paranoia, or chronic pain syndrome keep you awake at night and interfere with daily living, so it’s time to get help. Ask your doctor or therapist about treatment options, including other therapy and medicine like ketamine for your specific condition.

Ketamine started as a fast-acting anesthetic and pain reliever, an innovative new treatment option. Research in the last two decades has shown that ketamine is a powerful new tool for treating mood disorders or pain conditions.

Ketamine stimulates the growth and regrowth of neurotransmitters in the brain, essentially rewriting the parts of the brain causing distress. Up to 70% of patients may find relief from the symptoms of depression after a series of IV ketamine infusions.

Contact us today to learn more about this innovative new treatment option.