What To Ask Your Psychiatrist About Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Depression

Sometimes, people living with depression find little to no relief from first-line mental health treatments like psychotherapy and medication. But there is hope. Ketamine infusion therapy is a developing treatment for chronic, severe depression. Long used in medical settings as an anesthetic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ketamine for treating clinical depression or major depressive disorder (MDD). If you are considering this treatment, here are some questions you may want to ask a psychiatrist.

When should you consider ketamine treatment for depression?

When depression does not respond to prescription medication, it is considered treatment-resistant depression. This can be difficult to live with, especially as clients continue to struggle with symptoms despite doing everything right. A psychiatrist may recommend ketamine infusion therapy if the client:

• Has tried at least two antidepressants without success
• Cannot take medication, such as due to allergies or intolerable side effects
• Continues to struggle with symptoms despite being in therapy and on medication

How many ketamine infusions do you need to get?

At least six ketamine infusions for 12 to 21 days are recommended for treatment-resistant depression. Each infusion will take about 40 minutes to an hour. Although patients will feel the effects of ketamine during the infusion, most clients do not see improvements in their symptoms until they are about halfway through treatment. Other clients do not feel true relief until after the final infusion.

What does ketamine infusion feel like?

Ketamine is a dissociative drug, which means it causes feelings of detachment from the body and the world (dissociation). It is also hallucinogenic, bringing changes in mood, thought processes, and consciousness. Clients often report feeling euphoric, relaxed, and as though they have heightened senses (seeing the brightness of colors for the first time, etc.).

Will other medications interact with ketamine infusions?

Certain medications may interact with ketamine and affect its efficacy. Clonazepam, alprazolam, and other benzodiazepines can get in the way of ketamine’s antidepressant properties. Lamotrigine, a drug commonly used to treat bipolar disorder and epilepsy, may also interact with infusions. Consult a psychiatrist if the client is taking any of these medications.

Will you still need to continue with other medications and therapy?

Ketamine infusion therapy is a supplementary treatment and, thus, is not meant to be a cure-all. Clients should continue taking their medication and going to therapy. In fact, the effects of ketamine can make therapy more effective — the feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and detachment allow clients to talk about their experiences a bit easier. Further, clients may have realizations during and after infusions that they want to articulate to their therapists. Talking about positive realizations can help them stick. 

Are there any negative side effects?

Every medication may cause negative effects. For ketamine, the side effects are minor. Most go away within 24 hours of when the infusion ends, but make sure to contact the provider if they persist. Some potential side effects of ketamine infusions are:

• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Blurred vision
• Irregular heartbeat
• Frequent, bloody, or painful urination

It is recommended to have someone drive the client home after an infusion. The dissociative effects will start to subside within 10 minutes; however, it is common for these effects to take 24 hours to wear off completely. Do not operate heavy machinery in a dream state.

How long will it take for ketamine infusions to work?

The dissociative and hallucinogenic effects of ketamine can be felt within the first 30 seconds of an infusion. For some, it may take several minutes. Ketamine’s effects may linger for up to 24 hours. As for long-term effects, most clients report improvements in their depressive symptoms after the third or fourth infusion. Others may not see any true benefit until after the sixth and final infusion.

How long will the results of ketamine infusion therapy last?

The results of ketamine infusion therapy may last several months. Note that ketamine is meant to bolster psychiatric and therapeutic treatment by reducing symptoms and making it easier to go through treatment. It is only one component of treatment. A follow-up infusion, or “booster infusion,” may be given as maintenance if debilitating depressive symptoms return.

Call a psychiatrist for more information

Ketamine infusion therapy has been successful in helping people with treatment-resistant depression. Just a few infusions can provide long-lasting relief and make it easier to open up in therapy. To learn more about this treatment option and whether it is right for you, please give our team a call 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.

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