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THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS PLACED KETAMINE
ON THEIR ESSENTIAL MEDICINES LIST
TREATMENTS ARE TAILORED TO THE PATIENT’S SPECIFIC NEEDS AND ARE TYPICALLY DESCRIBED TO BE A PLEASANT OR EUPHORIC EXPERIENCE Depression.Chronic Pain.PTSD.
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We follow the ketamine treatment protocol that has been studied most in the treatment of depression. This is commonly referred to as the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) protocol. Depending on the condition, we may tailor the treatment to your specific needs. The ketamine treatment takes about an hour. When you arrive, your vital signs will be checked, and an IV will be placed. Ketamine is then administered intravenously slowly over 40 minutes. After about 20 minutes, you may notice changes in your perception, altered thought patterns and the feeling of being in a dream-like state. By the end of the 40 minutes you may feel a sense of being outside of your body. Most people describe the experience as pleasant or euphoric. You will be awake, but people often find it difficult to communicate. We recommend resting comfortably with eyeshades and calming music of your choice.
Treating Depression
Up to half of all people with depression are not adequately treated by conventional therapies, or cannot tolerate the side effects of antidepressant medications. Many continue to suffer from what is called treatment-resistant depression. Today, depression is the leading cause of disability in the world, underscoring the great need for better treatment options. Scientific studies done at the National Institute of Mental Health and academic centers throughout the world have found that over ⅔ of people have a successful response to ketamine infusions for treatment-resistant depression. A response is generally considered to be a 50% reduction in symptom severity as measured by depression rating scales. About ⅓ of people have complete remission of their depression. Studies also show that ketamine significantly improves suicidal thoughts. People who do respond to treatment with ketamine have rapid relief of their suffering, and often feel significant and long-lasting improvements in mood and well-being within hours to days.
Treating Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can be a debilitating and difficult to treat illness. Similar success rates are observed for treating bipolar depression as those with with unipolar depression. Scientific studies done at the National Institute of Mental Health and academic centers throughout the world have found that over ⅔ of people have a successful response to ketamine infusions for bipolar depression. A response is generally considered to be a 50% reduction in symptom severity as measured by depression rating scales. About ⅓ of people have complete remission of their depression. Studies also show that ketamine significantly improves suicidal thoughts. People who do respond to treatment with ketamine have rapid relief of their suffering, and often feel significant and long-lasting improvements in mood and well-being within hours to days. Although ketamine does not cause or precipitate hypomania or mania, people in a current manic phase of bipolar disorder should not take ketamine as it could temporarily exacerbate those symptoms.
How long the treatment effects last depends on the individual. Clinical experience suggests that the effect of the recommended full course of 6 infusions usually lasts from weeks to months. It has been observed that people with a family history of alcohol abuse actually have much longer lasting effects. This benefit can be sustained by doing a single booster infusion as needed and determined by your individual response. Some people even find that they no longer need to take antidepressants. To solidify the gains you have from your treatment and to ensure long-lasting success, it is important to continue to see your primary physician or mental health care provider
Treating PTSD
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes significant morbidity and mortality (from suicide) globally and in the US. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD in the general population is approximately 5%. The incidence of PTSD is increased to approximately 20% among people who are exposed to neglect, abuse, violence, rape or military combat. Despite treatment with current standard medical treatment and psychotherapy, PTSD remains a severe and emotionally painful chronic illness in up to 40% of patients. As such, there is great need for more effective alternative treatments.
Scientific studies have shown that single infusions of ketamine significantly reduce PTSD symptoms. Military trauma patients who received ketamine for pain control rather than morphine were 50% less likely to develop subsequent PTSD. Since ketamine also improves depression and suicidality which can often coexist with PTSD, many people find additional relief and have significant improvement in their lives. With the appropriate therapy, ketamine may act to temporarily break the negative thought patterns developed as a result of PTSD, allowing new and more healthy patterns to be built in their place.
Treating Chronic Pain
Up to half of all people with depression are not adequately treated by conventional therapies, or cannot tolerate the side effects of antidepressant medications. Many continue to suffer from what is called treatment-resistant depression. Today, depression is the leading cause of disability in the world, underscoring the great need for better treatment options. Scientific studies done at the National Institute of Mental Health and academic centers throughout the world have found that over ⅔ of people have a successful response to ketamine infusions for treatment-resistant depression. A response is generally considered to be a 50% reduction in symptom severity as measured by depression rating scales. About ⅓ of people have complete remission of their depression. Studies also show that ketamine significantly improves suicidal thoughts. People who do respond to treatment with ketamine have rapid relief of their suffering, and often feel significant and long-lasting improvements in mood and well-being within hours to days.
Treating Addiction
Substance use disorders are a serious public health problem. Tobacco, a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and cancer, kills up to half of its users, or approximately 6 million people each year (~ 9% of all deaths globally). Alcohol accounts for over 3 million deaths every year (~6 % of all deaths globally). Alcohol abuse is also directly related to a range of mental health disorders, medical diseases and injuries. Half of all trauma is associated with alcohol, as are over 70% of all suicide attempts.
Current treatments for substance use disorders are relatively ineffective. Medical treatment for tobacco use is less than 35% effective at 6 months. For alcohol addiction, the best medical treatment achieves abstinence in only 1 out of 9 patients treated. So despite receiving standard evidence-based treatment, the majority of people with addiction continue to suffer.
Ketamine has been used in the treatment of addiction since the 1970´s in Russia. Studies with ketamine treatment followed by psychotherapy suggest that it may be more effective than other currently available treatment, with abstinence rates at one year up to 65% for alcohol and 50% for heroin. Ketamine also significantly improves depression which often coincides with addiction, thereby additionally improving the lives of those suffering from these disorders.
Treating Anxiety
⅔ OF PEOPLE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE TO KETAMINE INFUSIONS AND ⅓ OF PATIENTS EXPERIENCE REMISSION
Ketamine can play an important role in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Currently, people with anxiety disorders are treated either with an antidepressant, such as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), an SNRI (selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), or highly addictive benzodiazepine such as Xanax, Ativan, or Klonipin. Even when evidence-based nonpharmacologic therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or mentalization-based therapy (MBT) are utilized up to 40% of people do not respond to these treatments.
Ketamine has been studied and shown [to be] effective with an array of anxiety disorders, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD), general anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Studies with ketamine have shown improvements in social/work functioning, dose dependent improvement in anxiety scores, and decreased frontal theta brain frequencies when compared to conventional anti-anxiety medications. In one study, the benefits of a single infusion lasted for 14 weeks (Glue et. al, J Psychopharmacol. 2018)