Ketamine Therapy: Party Drug or Treatment?

Ketamine is commonly used for treating pain and sedating patients. Unfortunately, people abuse Ketamine as a party drug to induce hallucination and dissociation. So, how is the treatment different from abuse? Read on to understand Ketamine treatment and addiction Howell

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a dissociative sedative. Ketamine is an analgesic in low doses, which means it treats pain. In higher doses, it dissociates and sedates the patient, which means the patient doesn’t form memories or analyze their experience. It’s used on combative patients, procedural sedation, seizure control, and depression. 

What is Ketamine addiction?

Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance. It gained popularity as a party drug in the 1980s. Users report having out-of-body experiences, distortion of reality, and utter bliss. The substance can be consumed through injection, snorting, or oral consumption. It acts quickly and lasts for around an hour, making it ideal for the party scene.

Ketamine addiction is a severe problem. It affects day-to-day function and has long-term health effects related to the urinary tract. Studies also indicate long-term memory impairment. Due to amnesia, individuals often forget when and how much they consumed, resulting in fatal overdoses. Addicted users must seek treatment and rehabilitation.

Is Ketamine safe?

Under professional hands, Ketamine is safe to use. It also has several properties that make it superior to other treatments and medications. 

  • First, it raises the heart rate, increases the blood pressure, and doesn’t suppress the respiratory drive, which is crucial for patients with the probability of having low blood pressure.
  • Ketamine expands the airway and facilitates air exchange, which helps patients with reactive airway diseases. 
  • It is hard to overdose, especially on professionally administered doses. 

Ketamine treatments for mental wellness

Ketamine is prescribed as an off-label treatment for emotional disorders. Patients receive Ketamine infusion under medical supervision in a clinical office. The treatment works on anxiety, PTSD, depression, postpartum depression, and suicidal thoughts. 

People who are depressed or stressed over a long time lose the connections or synapses between the neurons in the brain. Under the right dosage, Ketamine regenerates synapses and electrifies the brain, enabling relief for users.

However, while Ketamine has excellent results, patients are advised to remain on their psychiatric medication. Ketamine clinics and professionals recommend collaborating with your mental health professional and primary physician for the best results. Clinicians will also recommend some lifestyle changes to enhance recovery after Ketamine treatments. 

What to expect during treatment

You can expect a 30-minute virtual consultation to determine your suitability for the treatment. The complete treatment happens over six sessions in a three-way period. Each infusion takes approximately 45 minutes. The clinician provides eye cover, headphones, and a relaxing environment during the session.

After the treatment, you will need around 30 minutes to recover. Ensure you have a friend or family to drive you home, even if you feel instant relief after the treatment.  

Ketamine Infusion therapy for rapid relief

Ketamine is a safe and effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and other emotional disorders. To learn more about Ketamine treatments or schedule a free initial consultation, consult ReYou.