More About Ketamine Infusion Therapy
How Ketamine Infusion Therapy Affects Our Mind
Rather than affecting one of the “monoamine” neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) as standard antidepressants do, ketamine acts on glutamate, the most common chemical messenger in the brain. Glutamate regulates the brain’s ability to process cognitive thoughts, emotions, and neuroplasticity.
During a ketamine infusion while neuroplasticity is increased, our brain’s thought pathways can be disrupted. This allows for practitioners and patients to create new brain habits during sessions.
Another role glutamate plays in the brain is producing and balancing Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), a calming neurotransmitter. High levels of glutamate and low GABA can lead to anxiety while depleted glutamate and GABA can result in depression.
Use the form below to schedule an appointment.
Ketamine works to treat this imbalance in three different phases:
Immediate effect: Activates the brain’s opiate receptors which can affect symptoms of depression. Patients generally feel relaxed, free from pain and in a sedated-like feeling during this stage.
Short term effect: Glutamate receptors are increased, which helps restore normal levels of glutamate and GABA. At this point, patients generally feel relaxed after treatment. Patients can experience feelings of invulnerability during this time.
Long term effect: The brain’s reaction to ketamine causes new neural receptors to grow which may “reset” the depressed brain. Ketamine may be particularly useful for patients whose depression involves suicidal thoughts.
How a Ketamine IV Session Is Administered
Ketamine treatments involve a physician, a mental health professional and a patient. The physician’s role is to administer the intravenous (IV) of ketamine to the patient while the mental health professional’s role is to help the patient navigate through the mental landscape they are experiencing.
In the relationship described above, Sturges Family Practice plays the role of physician administering the IV – we do not provide a mental health professional. Most clients bring a mental health professional they already have a relationship with, but we can introduce you to professionals we believe have a deep understanding of this therapy.
Ketamine therapy delivered via IV takes effect quickly and can be monitored accurately. As a result, treatment plans can be drafted with precision for each patient and individuals can gain relief for their symptoms more efficiently.
Ketamine Treatment Options
Ketamine can be used for a variety of clinical mental health problems including depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction. The drug alone does not solve these challenges, but helps the mental health professional make progress with patients more effectively.
Ketamine Treatment for Depression
Although ketamine has been used as an aesthetic and pain reliever for a number of years, its exact impact on depression is not yet completely understood. Unlike other medical treatments for the condition, it is believed that ketamine has a positive effect on the symptoms of depression when it leaves the body, rather than when it enters it.
Proponents of the treatment believe this because ketamine facilitates the regrowth of connections between the brain cells that are involved in regulating mood. In doing so, the patient’s mood is improved, and the pervasive symptoms of depression are alleviated.
Ketamine Treatment for Anxiety
When used as a treatment for anxiety, ketamine transfusion therapy works in the same way. By facilitating the growth of connections between brain cells, it is believed that ketamine affects nerve signals in specific areas of the brain.
In one study by Li N et al., the cells responsible for producing some neurotransmitters developed new synapse connections following treatment with ketamine. This ability to modify connections within the brain is known as neuroplasticity and it appears that ketamine is an effective facilitator of this. As such, ketamine therapy is being used to rebuild damaged connections, thus alleviating the symptoms of excessive anxiety.
Ketamine Treatment for PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a condition that occurs following a traumatic experience. Commonly seen in veterans, many soldiers acquire the disorder whilst serving in the armed forces. However, any traumatic experience can be a precursor to PTSD and cases are seen in patients from all demographics.
In many studies into the disorder, patients with PTSD are shown to have experienced changes to their brain. It is believed that these changes are responsible for the onset or exacerbation of their symptoms. By repairing this damage via neuroplasticity, ketamine therapy could effectively reduce the symptoms associated with PTSD.
Ketamine Treatment for Addiction
Studies into addiction have also confirmed the brain undergoes changes as addiction develops. The addictive substance effectively creates a shortcut to the brain’s reward system by releasing excess amounts of dopamine. This often begins the cycle of addiction. Following this, further changes to the brain actually make the addictive substance less pleasurable, which prompts the individual to consume larger amounts in order to recreate the initial pleasurable experience they first encountered.
As ketamine transfusion therapy is believed to be able to change the structure of the brain’s connections, there is the potential for it to be used to treat all types of addictions. By repairing and building new connections, the erroneous pathways established during the throws of addiction may become ineffective, thus minimizing the cravings and withdrawal symptoms experienced by patients.
