Ketamine Therapy

What is ketamine infusion therapy? Ketamine infusion therapy is a treatment option for major depression and other mood disorders. Some people do not respond sufficiently to traditional treatment plans, which usually consist of oral antidepressants and talk therapy. For people who still experience symptoms of mental health conditions while taking oral antidepressants, it can be easy to lose hope. Ketamine infusion therapy is a safe, evidenced, rapid-acting option to help manage treatment-resistant depression symptoms.

Traditional antidepressants operate on the brain’s serotonin while ketamine acts on its NMDA-receptors. This difference in modality is why ketamine therapy is so groundbreaking for patients and providers. The treatment protocol we follow for ketamine infusion treatments is upheld by peer-reviewed research and has the potential to deliver relief from symptoms of major depressive disorder in a matter of hours, rather than weeks. At YOUnique Health & Wellness we offer a range of solutions to treat mental health conditions.

YOUnique Health & Wellness provides care for the following conditions:

Depression PTSD Anxiety OCD

If you’re considering ketamine therapy, this page is designed to educate you what it’s all about. Ketamine infusion therapy is a personal and unique experience for each patient. However, after providing thousands of patients with care, we have observed consistencies.

At the beginning of the infusion, you may experience a benign tingling sensation in your lips or extremities. Soon after, some patients describe a sense of “feeling heavier;” you may even feel as though your mind is detached from your body. Though these sensations may sound strange, our patients rarely feel uncomfortable. Some people are curious if ketamine can cause a “bad trip” or “hallucinations,” but ketamine is not a hallucinogen like LSD or psilocybin – it is a dissociative anesthetic that does not affect the receptors that hallucinogenic drugs act upon.

How should you prepare? We understand that trying a new depression treatment may be overwhelming for patients, especially when other options may not have worked. Being prepared for treatment is an important part of our consultation process. Receiving a ketamine infusion is a relatively simple procedure, with very few risks.

How should you prepare? We understand that trying a new depression treatment may be overwhelming for patients, especially when other options may not have worked. Being prepared for treatment is an important part of our consultation process. Receiving a ketamine infusion is a relatively simple procedure, with very few risks.

One reason why patients prefer ketamine therapy is because when they are not undergoing an infusion, they are not on the medication. During the Treatment: Possible Side Effects During the infusion, patients sit in a reclining chair. We encourage you to be as comfortable as possible and are here to help you have a positive experience. Many patients enjoy listening to music during the infusion.

You are welcome to have a family member or friend in the room with you as long as they have a calming presence during the procedure. We’ve found that it can be difficult to hold a conversation, especially during the first treatment, so we discourage talking or excessive stimulation. If you need to use the restroom, please inform the infusion nurse or psychiatrist so that you may be assisted as needed.

At all times you will be able to move and walk; nevertheless, ketamine can impair your balance, and you will be connected to an IV, so it is important that you ask for assistance before walking. As a side note, while the nurse or physician is in the room to check on you, it is important to let them know of side effects during the infusion like nausea, feeling faintness or a headache.

We can help you manage these side effects during the treatment. Similar to the quick onset of sensations near the beginning of the infusion, you will find that these sensations dissipate rather quickly near the end as well. After your infusion, you may feel groggy, and that is why having a driver or other third-party transportation is essential.

Most times, the grogginess completely dissipates within 3 hours after the infusion and very rarely lasts into the next morning. Of note, alcohol can contribute to a continued groggy feeling the next morning or worsening of depression or anxiety symptoms, so please abstain from drinking alcohol before or after ketamine therapy. A similar effect is possible with benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, and Librium, which may interfere with positive response to ketamine treatment.

These are just some general notes on side effects, so if you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask us on the day of your infusion. Call YOUnique Health & Wellness today at 239-260-3880