Research over the past couple of decades has proven the antidepressive properties of ketamine, which is the basis of ketamine infusion therapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ketamine for inducing anesthesia, but it can also help with managing psychiatric disorders and chronic pain.
Our office will prescribe ketamine for treating depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including post-operative and chronic pain. Ketamine infusion therapy is usually not the first treatment option for pain and depression and but it can help when standard treatment options fail.
Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate adversary, when infused intravenously, has been proven to be beneficial for treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts, and bipolar depression.
According to a study published by a British team, ketamine is beneficial as monotherapy or adjunctive treatment for depression, especially the treatment-resistant depression due to its rapid rate of efficiency. Since major psychiatric disorders such as MDD are part of the most incapacitating neurological, mental, and substance-abuse related ailments, new treatment methods are being evaluated to treat or interrupt the onset of these disorders.
Ketamine infusion therapy has been used in combination with psychiatric treatment and can provide significant, momentary relief to the symptoms – the long-term effects are still under research. Minimal doses of ketamine can cause rapid and strong (although brief) antidepressive effects, including treatment-resistant patients who are not yielding to electroconvulsive therapy. Studies have shown that ketamine infusion therapy lowers depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts within 30 to 40 minutes in about 60 to 75 percent of patients.
The use of ketamine infusion for treating chronic pain is effective through an interdisciplinary, multimodal, patient-centered approach. Ketamine is beneficial for managing chronic pain in many disorders, including ischemic limb pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), fibromyalgia, phantom limb pain, and other neuropathic conditions.
Ketamine has also been proven to treat anxiety and depression caused by chronic pain and other chronic conditions. As a principle of the multimodal approach, doctors use ketamine infusion therapy as a first or second option in treating neuropathic pain, regardless of the cause. Since the potential lasting effects on the memory and cognitive functions in chronic pain patients yet requires more study, ketamine infusion therapy is only used for patients with treatment-resistant neuropathic pain, as it is with refractory CRPS pain.
Ketamine infusion therapy may be applied as an opiate substitution for cancer pain, majorly from neuropathic causes, and may sometimes help for treating patients who cannot handle opioids or those facing issues with opioid responsiveness. Ketamine can lower the severity and occurrence of opioid side effects, which is a critical factor in patient compliance. For instance, the opioid-ketamine combination may prove beneficial for non-neuropathic pain or in cases of mixed nociceptive/neuropathic pain.
The clinical application of ketamine infusion therapy for depression and pain management is continually evolving. Additional research on this topic is necessary for more information on its effectiveness.
Request an appointment here: https://mb.futurepsychsolutions.com or call Future Psych Ketamine Clinics at (843) 788-9718 for an appointment in our Myrtle Beach office or for more information on ketamine infusion therapy.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
No one should have to live with symptoms of depression that hinder their ability to function normally or their overall level of happiness. Fortunately, talk therapy offers an effective treatment solution, particularly as part of a more comprehensive depression treatment plan.There is no cure for depression, but there are effective treatments available. Talk therapy is…
The treatment of depression has been the primary focus of studies comparing medication and therapy. The findings support the use of both medicine and psychotherapy as effective therapies. Depressive episodes may vary from moderate seasonal mood swings to severe impairments that make it difficult to do even the most basic self-care activities, let alone holding…
Every year, more than 17 million individuals in the United States deal with depression. Depression, characterized by disruptions in a person's emotions, behavior, and thoughts, deprives a person of their ability to experience pleasure in life. Patients often experience a state of near-total numbness or persistent grief. The psychiatrist will typically recommend the proper treatment…
Mental illnesses are more common than most people realize, which is why the field of psychiatry is so important. Are you wondering what psychiatry treatment can do for someone who is struggling with a mental illness? It can be helpful to know what treatment options exist when dealing with a mental health problem. Psychiatry can do…
No one should have to live with symptoms of depression that hinder their ability to function normally or their overall level of happiness. Fortunately, talk therapy offers an effective treatment solution, particularly as part of a more comprehensive depression treatment plan.There is no cure for depression, but there are effective treatments available. Talk therapy is…
The treatment of depression has been the primary focus of studies comparing medication and therapy. The findings support the use of both medicine and psychotherapy as effective therapies. Depressive episodes may vary from moderate seasonal mood swings to severe impairments that make it difficult to do even the most basic self-care activities, let alone holding…