Ketamine treatment is a kind of infusion therapy used to cure extreme depressive symptoms by targeting neurotransmitters to trigger a positive response, unlike traditional mental therapy and medications, which typically work over longer periods. Ketamine is a relatively shorter treatment that significantly decreases suicidal and depressive symptoms.
Ketamine first came out in the 1960s as an anesthesia medicine. The FDA approved it in 1970 as a safe anesthesia medication for people. Initially, doctors used it to treat injured soldiers during wars. However, ketamine has evolved over the years to treat conditions like mood disorders, PTSD, OCD, anxiety, and depression.
Due to its safe impact, researchers at Chicago ketamine centers recommend it for suicidal patients who have been battling depression over long periods and for whom other treatments have failed. They can experience mental relief after infusion therapy.
However, you must know what ketamine treatment entails and whether it fits you or not. Let us take a closer look at it.
1. It Prevents Suicidal Incidents
Ketamine can help bring down suicide rates in the States. The State of Illinois records a suicide rate of 10.5, with 1,362 deaths a year. According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, suicide rates in the city increased significantly in 2020, specifically in certain groups. Consequently, the Chicago ketamine clinic offers treatment options for such patients, IV vitamin infusions for overall wellness and energy and immunity boosting, and NAD+ infusions for anti-aging and boosting metabolic health.
Such treatments help prevent depressive and suicidal thoughts while improving overall mental health. Therefore, if you suffer from anxiety and depression regularly, it is time to embrace infusion therapy. However, you must consult your psychiatrist or book a consultation with an on-site clinical psychiatrist for a thorough analysis of your condition and mental state.
2. It Helps Get off Addictive Medications
If you have already tried different antidepressants and pain medications without any luck, ketamine might be your answer. Some patients also develop an addiction to pain medications, resulting in them developing immunity against the drug. Ketamine helps transform neurotransmitters to curb addiction. Therefore, the prescription drugs may work for you in the intended way after infusion therapy.
However, ketamine is not the foremost option for curing depression symptoms. You must go for it only if other methods have failed you. Your psychiatrist or primary care physician may advise you to abstain from Benzodiazepines such as Xerox and Valium before going for infusion therapy. These can interfere with the ketamine process and its effectiveness.
3. It Does Not Have Any Major Side Effects
It is natural to wonder about the side effects of treatment. One of the best things about ketamine therapy is that it does not have any major side effects, hence its popularity. It is a safer and more reliable procedure to improve your mental health.
The only side effects that you may experience are very short-lived. You may experience temporary hallucinations, nausea, and a lack of appetite. However, a good night’s sleep will help you overcome these. It may take some patients a few days to recover, with a significant decrease in depressive thoughts after just one or two sessions.
If you want to reduce the chances of side effects like nausea, try to eat a light meal at least three hours before the session. Avoid foods rich in carbohydrates and saturated fat as they take longer to digest. Try eating healthy and light foods for instant energy that will digest faster, yet give you enough energy for the session. Avoid operating heavy machinery or driving home to curb other side effects after the treatment and for fast recovery. Take rest to overcome the grogginess after the session.
4. It is a Simple Process
Before undergoing ketamine treatment, you must be aware of the process. You may book an appointment after a consultation session if you qualify for the treatment. However, it would help if you mentally prepared yourself for the treatment since it is for better mental health. You may clear any ambiguities with your primary care physician and consultant clinical psychiatrist. Learn all about the treatment and the process by asking questions.
Typically, you will be in a comfortable room and a comfortable chair with eyeshades and earbuds. The ketamine specialist will infuse an IV drip on your hand and gradually increase the infusion. However, you may ask them to stop if you feel uncomfortable. Nurses will monitor your vitals and response to the infusion with words of affirmation. It is important that you feel calm and comfortable and embrace the infusion.
It is better to have clear personal outcomes that you hope to achieve via ketamine. Once your mind is set on a goal, ketamine will work well and make the dissociative phase more beneficial and effective.
5. It Works Faster
As mentioned before, ketamine is a relatively short-term treatment than other medications. You may undergo one or two sessions during the first week, with six to twelve sessions in total. The timeline of ketamine treatment can vary from one patient to another. Typically, the treatment undergoes two phases: the loading phase and the maintenance phase. The loading phase aims to decrease depressive symptoms as much as possible. You may receive an evaluation or share feedback after each session to monitor your progress.
You can get a customized treatment during the maintenance phase, where you can reach your ketamine specialist if you feel the symptoms kicking back in. Alternatively, you can use ketamine to target a different area of mental health issue that stems from depression and anxiety.
Conclusion
Ketamine treatment is an excellent option if you experience depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or extreme mood disorders over long periods. It is best suited for treatment-resistant mental health disorders and serves as a later resort to curb depression symptoms. The biggest advantages of ketamine are that it does not have major side effects and does not lead to addiction. It can help you get off addictive pain medications and antidepressants. It helps eliminate drug addiction by boosting the immune system. The prescription drugs may work the right way after getting ketamine treatment.
