What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is an anesthetic that has been recognized as one of the most effective and safe medications available for treatment of depression.

When patients have failed to respond to numerous medications and treatments for depression, Ketamine has been found by various studies to help significantly with severe depressive symptoms.

How Does Ketamine Work?

Ketamine produces a rapid and sustained reduction in severe depressive symptoms. Ketamine infusions work by blocking NMDA receptors for glutamate, a different mechanism from most modern antidepressants.

How does Treatment Work?

Ketamine treatment is usually given as a single intravenous infusion over a 40 minute period. Most patients do IV Ketamine treatments once a week for 6 weeks in a row, as this has been shown to produce the most beneficial results.

Patients generally recover within 30 minutes of completing their Ketamine infusion. Patients must be driven home by a family member or friend, may not work or drive on the day of Ketamine infusions, and must have a family member supervising them for 24 hours after the infusion due to possible lingering effects. Patients may not eat or drink after midnight on nights prior to Ketamine infusions. If you are interested in Ketamine treatments as a treatment for depression, call today to schedule a consultation.