Developed as a surgical anesthetic in the 1960s, ketamine first found success as a field medicine during the Vietnam War. Its anesthetic mechanism is different from other drugs, with reduced negative impacts on the body.
As a dissociative medication with hallucinogenic properties, the dosage of ketamine determines much of its behavior. In low doses, it provides a chemical alternative to drugs typically used to treat mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Though its use as an anesthetic is now largely confined to veterinary medicine, ketamine stands as a treatment option for a wide range of mental health issues, including some that resist traditionally used medications.
Keta Medical Center specializes in ketamine therapy, including low-dose ketamine infusions and esketamine nasal sprays. Let us show you how you might benefit from adding ketamine to your treatment plan. We’ve outlined below some of the many uses of ketamine therapy to help you discover if you’re a candidate.
A recent alternative
Though ketamine has been around for about 60 years, it’s only been in the last decade that off-label use for mental health treatment has taken off. Unlike other medications used for this purpose that can take weeks to take effect, ketamine is fast-acting, and you may begin to feel its effects before you leave the office. Let’s take a look at some of the many uses for ketamine therapy.
Anxiety
While it’s normal to feel anxious from time to time, it’s not normal for anxiety to rule your life to the point of panic, nausea, or heart palpitations. The quick onset of ketamine intravenous (IV) infusion serves as an excellent complement to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and traditional anxiety medications, particularly when you’re not seeing the results you expect.
Bipolar disorder and depression
Perhaps the most effective mental health benefits from ketamine therapy come with its use in treating bipolar disorder and depression. In particular, Spravato® nasal spray is ideal for treating some forms of treatment-resistant depression.
Alcohol addiction
Relapse rates after treatment for alcohol addiction are typically high with conventional treatments including behavior therapy and medication. Adding low-dose ketamine IV therapy helps patients resist the urge to relapse and stay sober longer.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The anxiety, tension, and moodiness commonly experienced by PTSD patients can be difficult to treat through conventional means. The power of ketamine therapy as a mood stabilizer makes it an excellent addition to treatment when other methods fail.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Once again, the fast action of ketamine beats traditional drug therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Clinical trials show dramatic results, with obsessive behaviors stopping in the middle of ketamine treatment.
While the precise way that ketamine works isn’t fully understood, what is different is that it has no effect on serotonin, the key neurotransmitter on which traditional medications work. With an altogether different chemical effect on the brain, low-dose ketamine is a mental health game changer.
Contact Keta Medical Centers at any of our four offices to learn more. You can schedule an appointment by phone or online, and we offer a free consultation with one of our doctors to help get you started. Ketamine may also be your game-changer, so book your visit now.
