Ketamine therapy is a medical treatment that involves the intravenous administration of ketamine, a medication traditionally used in anesthesia. It’s primarily used to to treat severe mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain conditions. The therapy is administered under medical supervision and has shown promise in rapidly alleviating symptoms.

Ketamine works on the glutamate system in the brain, a key player in mood regulation and thought processing. This differs from traditional antidepressants, which typically work on neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine.

Glutamate is believed to have several effects that can alleviate symptoms of mood disorders and chronic pain:

1. Rapid Relief: Ketamine is known for its rapid onset of action, often within hours or days, which can be significantly faster than traditional antidepressant medications.

2. Neuroplasticity: Ketamine may promote neural connections in the brain, allowing for new, healthier thought patterns and behaviors.

3. Glutamate Modulation: Ketamine’s effect on glutamate receptors can help reset brain circuits implicated in mood disorders.

4. Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Ketamine may have anti-inflammatory effects, which can be relevant in certain pain conditions and mood disorders associated with inflammation.

5. Receptor Binding: Ketamine’s interaction with NMDA receptors and other receptors contributes to its therapeutic effects.

The treatment plan and frequency of sessions can vary depending on the condition being treated and on the individual’s response.

At these low doses, addiction, tolerance, or dependence is rarely seen.

Ketamine therapy may be particularly beneficial for individuals with treatment-resistant depression, especially those needing rapid relief from severe symptoms.

Ketamine  has been studied for its potential in treating various other conditions, but it’s essential to understand that its efficacy may vary from person to person. Some of the conditions that ketamine has been investigated for include:

1. Treatment-Resistant Depression
2. Major Depressive Disorder
3. Bipolar Depression
4. Anxiety Disorders (e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, PTSD)
5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
6. Postpartum Depression
7. Suicidal Ideation
8. Chronic Pain (e.g., CRPS, neuropathic pain)
9. Migraines
10. Fibromyalgia
11. Substance Use Disorders
12. Borderline Personality Disorder
13. Anorexia Nervosa
14. Parkinson’s Disease (for depression and pain)
15. Tourette Syndrome
16. Trigeminal Neuralgia

Please note that while ketamine can offer relief for some individuals with these conditions, its use should be guided by careful evaluation and monitoring. Research on its effectiveness is ongoing, and the list of treatable conditions may expand in the future.

Ketamine induces an experience of dissociation to varying degrees depending on dosage and route of administration. Dissociation refers to a feeling of disconnection from our body and normal sense of reality. This experience is highly individualized, but many people report changes in both their perception of time and space, and an experience of being an outsider looking in, or witnessing their thoughts from a distance. It can surely be a spiritual experience.

In clinical trials, feeling of euphoria, “strange” or “unreal” sensations, blurred vision, and drowsiness were the most common side effects reported after each infusion of ketamine. These side effects resolve within an hour of treatment.
Less commonly, patients may experience elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness, and mild nausea during an infusion. Medical treatment and trained personnel will be on hand to monitor and threat these symptoms, should a patient experience them.

We do not recommend stopping your medications during treatment, with the exception of any benzodiazepines you may be taking (which should be stopped 12 hours before an infusion). We have found that many people ultimately require reduced doses of their medications, or can stop certain drugs altogether. We leave that important decision to you and your mental health professional.

To maximize safety, there are conditions that will exclude you from treatment. These include:
> Pregnancy
> Uncontrolled hypertension or heart disease
> Raised intracranial or intraocular pressure
> Urinary incontinence, urgency, or pain
> Interstitial cystitis
> Significant medical illness
> Psychosis, schizophrenia or current mania
> Seizure disorder
> Prior adverse reaction to ketamine
> MAOI antidepressant treatment
> High doses of lamotrigine (brand name Lamictal), opioids, or benzodiazepines

We require a signed referral from your mental health professional before an evaluation will be scheduled. We believe that collaborative care with a mental health provider who already treats you and knows you well ultimately provides the best care for you.

The duration of results from ketamine infusion therapy for depression can vary from person to person. Some individuals experience relief from symptoms for several days to a few weeks following a single infusion, while others may require multiple sessions over a more extended period. Maintenance infusions may also be necessary to sustain the antidepressant effects. It’s essential to work closely with a healthcare provider to determine the most effective treatment plan for each individual.

Tracking your progress is very important to determine if ketamine is an effective therapy for you.  We partner with a company called Osmind, who provides an app that can work on your phone, tablet, or computer. Once you are active in therapy with us, we will use the Osmind app to ask your daily mood score and occasionally ask you to take a PHQ-9, a standardized scale for depression. Our office can review your scores and make a customized treatment plan based on your objective data. It is of no charge to you.  For more information about this app, go to the Osmind Webpage.