What is Ketamine Treatment?

This medication, which must be administered by a trained medical professional, has the potential to decrease or even eliminate symptoms of treatment-resistant depression.

What Is Ketamine Treatment?

Ketamine was originally created as an anesthetic to relieve pain. After some time, medical professionals discovered that this treatment actually has some antidepressant properties.

Today, ketamine is used to treat severe cases of depression. In some cases, it can also help individuals with other mental illnesses such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.

This medication is designed for people with treatment-resistant conditions, meaning that they have not responded to two or more antidepressants. Ketamine treatment has the potential to reduce suicidal thoughts and eliminate symptoms of depressive disorders in as little as a few hours. However, it can also help individuals manage their depression in the long-term.

How Ketamine Therapy Works

Ketamine therapy must be administered or monitored by a certified medical and/or mental health professional. While it is most commonly administered via an injectable infusion, ketamine is also available in nasal spray and lozenge forms.

Most ketamine therapy sessions last for about 30-45 minutes. After the session is complete, the patient must stay at the treatment facility for 20 or 30 minutes to monitor any immediate side effects. Those who participate in ketamine therapy will attend about six sessions, which are usually spaced about 14 days apart. This is because, when first used, the positive effects of ketamine infusions will last for two weeks before another session is needed. Throughout the process, patients will meet with the administrator to discuss their progress and any symptoms.

Common side effects of ketamine therapy include nausea, dizziness, hallucinations, double vision, drowsiness, confusion, dream-like state, muscle spasms, and feeling a strange or loopy sensation. To minimize these side effects, patients are encouraged to meditate or create a peaceful music playlist before the session begins.

While the side effects above typically go away quickly and aren’t considered dangerous, there are some potentially serious side effects that require emergency medical attention including:

• Bloody or painful urination
• Blue lips or skin, cough
• Irregular heartbeat
• Itchy skin
• Seizures
• Difficulty swallowing
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain

If you or a loved one experiences any serious reactions after receiving ketamine treatment, contact your nearest emergency room as soon as possible.

Ketamine Therapy Near You

Ketamine therapy can provide substantial relief for individuals who have not responded to antidepressant medications in the past. In many cases, ketamine therapy is combined with another form of mental health treatment like talk therapy, exercise routines, a nutrition plan, support groups, and other types of medication if needed. Treatment methods will ultimately vary based on the individual and their condition.

Because ketamine therapy involves weeks of commitment, it is important to find a provider that you trust. At Elium Health, our team is committed to helping our patients feel happier and healthier by offering a variety of proven mental health treatment options in a comfortable and quiet environment. We provide ketamine infusions and similar therapies for individuals 18 years and older who struggle with severe depression and have not seen success with previous treatments. For information about ketamine therapy or any of our other services, contact us at Elium Health by calling 866-552-3758 or emailing contact@eliumhealth.com today.

Sources

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-ketamine-infusion-therapy-5194302

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/what-is-ketamine#takeaway https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/what-does-ketamine-do-your-brain