Ketamine has long been an FDA-approved anesthesia medicine with therapeutic effects – starting with animals in 1960 and eventually humans several years later. It was approved by the FDA in 1970 and gained popularity recently for treating depression and suicidal thoughts. In the mid-2000s, after a series of studies, clinics across the country started to offer ketamine infusions to depression patients. Today, ketamine IV infusion therapy is used as an alternative for those with treatment-resistant depression, along with other mental health conditions. In fact, ketamine infusion therapy is often used on alcohol and drug abuse patients, PTSD victims, sexual abuse victims, and much more. If this is something you’re interested in or believe you’d benefit from ketamine therapy, here’s a look at what to expect from the process.
STEP ONE: MEET WITH YOUR DOCTOR
Before you can receive a ketamine IV drip, you must first meet with a reliable and experienced doctor to go over your medical and psychiatric history. Your doctor must confirm that you’re a good candidate for ketamine infusion therapy and approve the treatment to move forward. During this meeting, the doctor will also determine how much ketamine to administer, how often you should receive the infusion, and how to best monitor your progress. Since ketamine can have adverse effects when not administered in a controlled setting, this step is very important.
STEP TWO: INITIAL KETAMINE TREATMENT
Most people that are approved for ketamine treatment will have their initial infusion a few days after the consultation. Most ketamine treatments take anywhere from 45-60 minutes and you’ll be placed in a comfortable, relaxing room to ensure you have a positive, uplifting experience. At the start of the treatment, your nurse will hook you up to an IV bag with the proper ketamine dosage. The ketamine will slowly drip into your bloodstream and you’ll experience a change in mood and emotion as the therapeutic effects work their way into the brain and entire body. Your nurse will be available to answer any questions you have throughout the entire process. When the treatment comes to an end, you’ll continue to relax as the ketamine effects wear down. You’ll need someone to drive you home and there’s a chance you might feel fatigued.
STEP THREE: TWO-WEEK KETAMINE THERAPY SERIES
Depending on your initial meeting with the doctor, you’ll likely be scheduled for a series of ketamine infusions over the course of a 12-14 day period. Your doctor will customize the therapy to meet your needs, which might mean lower or higher dosages as you progress. Each session will get easier as you familiarize yourself with the process and the effects it causes on the body. You’ll feel more comfortable and you’ll find it easier to relax during the treatment. Plus, the staff will be there every step of the way to ensure a positive experience.
STEP FOUR: MAINTENANCE KETAMINE INFUSIONS
After the initial series of ketamine infusions, your doctor may schedule you for less-frequent maintenance infusions to ensure long-term positive results. These maintenance treatments are generally 1-3 months apart and usually involve a smaller dosage of ketamine than the initial. The maintenance infusions combined with an initial series of infusions have long provided the best results with ketamine therapy. There may come a time when your doctor feels you no longer need the treatment, at which point the maintenance infusions will come to an end. BENEFITS OF KETAMINE INFUSION THERAPY Ketamine infusion therapy is currently being used to treat a wide range of different mental health conditions and comes with a variety of benefits when compared to other depression treatments. Unlike most drugs in its category, ketamine doesn’t lower blood pressure or breathing rate. Ketamine not only blocks NMDA receptor signals in the brain, but it blocks the neurotransmitter glutamate, which helps promote relaxation and calmness under times of stress.
Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent benefits and uses of ketamine IV infusion therapy:
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- Ketamine provides pain relief and helps manage chronic pain conditions
- Ketamine is a promising treatment to help people successfully manage depression
- Ketamine can help reduce suicidal ideation and unwanted thoughts
- Ketamine therapy is often used to treat patients with a history of substance abuse
- Ketamine helps treat major depression, even those with treatment-resistant depression
- Ketamine can also help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients
- Ketamine can help reduce symptoms of Crohn’s Disease, fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, and migraines
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Despite being approved by the FDA for its anesthetic properties, ketamine should never be administered without professional, medical supervision. They’re essential to ensuring the ketamine is administered in a controlled, safe, and effective setting for every unique patient. It should also be noted that ketamine infusions aren’t going to cure anything and patients will react differently or have different experiences with ketamine infusions. That’s why it’s so important that you visit a trusted, reliable, and professional health clinic in your local area.
CONTACT COLORADO RECOVERY SOLUTIONS TODAY!
Led by Dr. Ashley Johnson and Dr. Ryan Johnson, Colorado Recovery Solutions has become a preferred ketamine infusion therapy center for many patients in the Colorado area. We believe in providing a quality, luxurious, and comfortable experience for all ketamine infusion patients. The staff at Colorado Recovery Solutions is dedicated to offering best-in-class services, from the moment you first meet with Dr. Johnson to your final ketamine infusion session. Between our friendly staff members and welcoming atmosphere, your sessions will get easier each time. As your treatment progresses, we’ll help you make lasting changes in your life as you start to regain your quality of life. Together and with the help of other professionals, you can begin your journey to a better, happier, healthier, and more rewarding life.
If you’d like to learn more about ketamine infusion IV therapy or if you’d like to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Johnson, don’t hesitate to contact Colorado Recovery Solutions today. We can’t wait to introduce you to the treatment and determine if it’s the right treatment for you!
