Ketamine Therapy

Posted by latosha lamoreaux on July 27th, 2021

Ketamine is a drug primarily used for inducing and sustaining temporary unconsciousness, a state called hyponechorrhexis, giving pain relief, amnesia, and constriction of the bronchi and airways. It also gives a euphoric feeling, which some people refer to as a "high," which can last as long as 24 hours. Ketamine is sometimes also referred to as Kethylene Blue or Naxalone. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes ketamine use and abuse as an "abnormal use of an agent that causes dissociative behaviors." In recent years, ketamine has been increasingly used in various forms of substance abuse treatment including alcohol and drug rehabilitation.

Prior to the recent surge in its use among patients in substance abuse treatment programs, ketamine was most commonly used as an intravenous source of pain relief in severe pain and medical conditions like cancer, organ failure, and Parkinson's disease. Patients in these special situations would have regular access to a pharmacist who could dispense the drug under medical supervision. For patients in pain due to a long-term or recurring medical condition, however, access to a pharmacist was not always available, so alternate methods of pain relief had to be explored. Some of these treatments, such as topical anesthetics, muscle relaxants, tricyclic antidepressants, or bronchodilators, take time to affect a patient's mood, whereas, other types of treatments, such as those designed to evoke a state of euphoria for patients undergoing ketamine therapy, work more immediately and effectively altering a patient's mood and enhancing his or her moods shortly after its administration.

Because ketamine has both anesthetic and stimulant properties, it has been used to treat a range of medical and psychiatric disorders, particularly in cases where medical treatment has been ineffective or where the side effects of existing medications are too severe for prolonged use. ketamine has been found to be effective in the treatment of some forms of depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania, psychosis, and post-traumatic stress disorders. In some cases where ketamine therapy is indicated, it has been found that patients do not relapse into their previous state of mental health as often when these conditions are treated separately from the ketamine. For example, in patients with psychotic depression, bi-weekly dosages of the antidepressant Clomipramine have been found to be ineffective, whereas, in patients taking an anxiety-releasing agent, weekly dosages of this drug have been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Another study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), showed that patients who were treated with high doses of an SSRI had a lower risk of having a relapse into their previous state of mental health than patients who were treated with a placebo, although this study was confounded by the fact that patients taking SSRIs also had higher levels of subjective feelings of sadness and did not report a decrease in mood.

ketamine therapy should not replace the other medications that are used to treat patients suffering from depression and other mood disorders. The SSRIs and MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors) have their own benefits when it comes to depression and substance abuse, but they also carry the risk of serious side effects if used improperly. Although ketamine therapy has less potential for side effects than do other forms of medications, any patient should ensure that he or she receives medical advice from his or her doctor before deciding to start ketamine therapy. This is especially important for people with preexisting medical conditions like diabetes, hypoglycemia, or a heart condition. Ketamine has also not been recommended for children or people taking medications for long periods of time.

Ketamine is a new medication and the results of clinical trials are still ongoing. However, there is much evidence that ketamine is an effective treatment for patients suffering from anxiety disorders. Ketamine can be used in conjunction with different types of medication to bring about a faster and more significant improvement in the patient's mood and the quality of his or her life. Because ketamine has not been approved by the FDA as a drug for treating any sort of psychiatric disease, there is not extensive evidence base to show how effective it is or how safe it is.

Ketamine, however, has been shown to be more effective in patients that have mild to moderate pain. Ketamine can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or orally, depending on the condition of the patient and the type of therapy that he or she wants to pursue. Patients should speak to their physician about the various treatments that he or she might be eligible for in order to alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain. Patients should be made aware of the serious side effects that can occur from ketamine therapy and should be sure to carefully research the risks and side effects related to such treatments.