A ketamine clinic may help those with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) finally find relief. Traditional anti-depressants and therapy are sometimes not enough to relieve symptoms in some individuals with depression. Ketamine is one newer therapy that is showing promise in helping these individuals. If you are considering visiting a ketamine clinic for depression treatment, here are some things you should know.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used in human and veterinary medicine for sedation and pain management. Medical professionals first used in the United States during the 1970s. This drug has hallucinogenic properties and can make a person feel like they are detached from reality and in a dreamlike state.
Because of its history of use as a recreational drug, it has somewhat of a bad reputation in certain circles. However, when used by qualified healthcare professionals, ketamine can be safe and beneficial. Ketamine continues to be used in medicine and, in recent years, has been shown to help alleviate some forms of depression.
Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression in 2019, ketamine clinics have been opening more frequently across the country. The type of staff and oversight varies from clinic to clinic. Therefore, patients should do their research and be selective when considering a ketamine clinic.
Patients are advised to choose a clinic run by a licensed mental health professional and medical doctor, such as a psychiatrist with extensive experience in ketamine therapy. Patients are urged to review the clinic's website for information on the facility's services and the qualifications of the practitioners. Also, we recommend reading reviews from actual patients on reputable review sites such as WebMD or Healthgrades.
Ketamine therapy is not typically a first-line treatment for depression. This treatment is recommended for those with TRD who have tried at least two other depression medications without experiencing significant improvement in their symptoms. For these individuals, ketamine may be used in addition to other anti-depressant medication.
Research into the exact mechanism by which ketamine improves depression in patients is ongoing. However, it appears to work by prompting the brain to form new neural connections that make the brain more adaptable and able to recover from depression. In addition, ketamine therapy can be faster-acting than traditional anti-depressant medication and free of many of the unwanted side effects caused by those medications.
A customized treatment plan is designed after a thorough medical and psychological evaluation of the patient. Treatment is usually delivered in a series of sessions spaced out over weeks or months, with possible maintenance treatments to maintain the results. Patients will likely be advised to continue with their regular depression medications along with a form of talk therapy. We find the best results come from a combination of ketamine treatments combined with other depression therapies.
Ketamine may be administered intravenously, through a nasal spray, or orally, and sessions can last 40 to 60 minutes. The experience is different for each patient. However, many describe the session as pleasant and report deep relaxation, mild euphoria, and an out-of-body experience. During each session, medical professionals monitor the patient closely to ensure their safety and comfort, as ketamine can cause hallucinations and intense feelings of dissociation.
Ideal candidates are those with treatment-resistant depression who have not found sufficient relief after trying at least two anti-depressant medications. However, ketamine therapy may also be an option for those who cannot tolerate the side effects associated with traditional anti-depressants.
Those with certain cardiovascular issues and glaucoma are not good candidates for ketamine therapy. According to Harvard Health, ketamine therapy should be avoided or used with extreme caution in the following individuals:
Also, the long-term effects of ketamine on the developing brain are still an area of concern. Therefore, ketamine therapy is not recommended for teenagers.
Depression can cast a shadow over your life that can seem unrelenting. It is even more frustrating when you have tried medication and therapy without success. At Future Psych Ketamine Clinics, we believe no one should have to live under the cloud of depression, and we continue to seek innovative ways to help our patients overcome treatment-resistant depression. To learn more about depression treatment at a ketamine clinic, call our team today.
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.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Ketamine Clinic in Myrtle Beach, SC.
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