All people suffer from some health issues from time to time. Thus, medicine constantly develops and invents various kinds of therapies to handle those issues. Today, people frequently mention ketamine therapy. However, other people don’t know what it is and why it is carried out. We’ll clarify this matter.
Ketamine therapy means the course of treatment with ketamine. Although it was invented to treat pain during surgeries, it’s also used to treat depression, anxiety, and similar conditions. It has become popular over the last few years and many clinics throughout the USA offer it.
Ketamine infusion therapy is carried out via intravenous injections. The whole process takes about 45 minutes. It’s carried out only in a specialized center and is controlled by a certified specialist. You risk nothing at all.
This use of the drug is off-label, but it’s allowed by the FDA. Licensed clinics offer various kinds of treatment because this substance is effective against various mental diseases and deviations. Thus, your clinic may offer the next kinds of therapies:
- Ketamine infusion therapy for depression;
- Ketamine therapy for anxiety;
- Ketamine therapy for pain;
- Ketamine therapy for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder);
- Ketamine infusion therapy for chronic pain;
- Ketamine infusion therapy, neuropathic pain, etc.
How Does It Work?
Ketamine therapy for depression directly affects our brain and the concentration of neurotransmitters in it. They are also called natural chemicals. They are answerable for our emotions, mood, mental stability, etc. When some imbalance takes place, we feel moody, are vulnerable to behavioral changes, stress, etc. All of these consequences lead to anxiety and depression. Ketamine rebalances all the imbalances in our brain. It increases amounts of certain chemicals (such as endorphin) to improve our mood and overcome mental issues.
Can It Cause Some Side Effects?
Many people wonder whether ketamine therapy can somehow harm their health. It’s known that various antidepressants can cause a lot of unhealthy events. Fortunately, the influence of this substance on the body is light and rarely causes any side effects. Even if they occur, their severity is mild and is not lasting. The possible ketamine infusion therapy side effects are:
- Irregular heart rate;
- Enhanced blood pressure;
- Some changes in alertness;
- Drowsiness;
- Euphoria and similar effects.
It’s better to avoid driving a car or operating machinery while the substance is in your blood. It may cause some slight changes in perception and lead to accidents.
Are There Some Other Kinds of Ketamine Treatment?
Many people hate being injected and so, ask whether ketamine therapy could be applied in a different way. Such a possibility really exists. You can opt for a nasal implementation. It takes some minutes and is also quite effective. Moreover, the effects of a nasal spray commonly come faster compared to infusion. In this case, you’ll be given esketamine because there’s no patent to use ketamine in the form of a nasal spray. Nonetheless, esketamine fully mimics its effects and you’ll receive the same results. Most clinics offer this alternative.