Brain image of ketamine infusion

The Ketamine Infusion Experience

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Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with various mechanisms of action and binds to multiple receptors in the brain. Consequently, it is difficult to pin down the precise mode of action, and it appears that there are various mechanisms through which Ketamine exerts its action on the brain. Ketamine Infusion Therapy is used to treat depression, PTSD, OCD, chronic anxiety, and chronic pain. One question that gets asked often is what does it feel like during and after the treatment?

 

Just like any drug therapy, ketamine infusion therapy can be different for everyone, and experiences may be different from one infusion to the other  In our clinic, the infusion itself is done intravenously, typically over 45 minutes, followed by a 45-60-minute period of rest while the effect of the medication wears off. The dosage and time vary depending on the individual and the disorder being treated.

 

How Will I feel During treatment?

The initial sensations begin about 5 minutes into the treatment and can last about 90 minutes. These effects wear off quickly after the infusion is stopped. Some describe the sensation of being in a dream or of being deeply relaxed. Others report an altering of perception and feeling a bit “out of their body.”  Avid meditators find their ability to achieve a prolonged sense of stillness and peace is heightened beyond anything they have experienced during a regular mediation session. Overall, patients find the experience to be intense yet pleasurable. Although the benefit from Ketamine does not require dissociation, many providers, including ourselves, believe the dissociative state is an essential and desirable state for profound psychological and spiritual growth and feel it to be a critical factor in our patient’s healing journey.

 

Will I Feel Sleepy or Sedated?

Low-dose Ketamine does not typically cause a sense of sedation, and many patients report they are pretty sharp mentally and can work through their thoughts and feelings clearly and calmly for the first time in their life. While the intensity of the effects wears off quickly, we always caution there may be some feeling of imbalance and delayed reaction time for a few hours, and we advise you not to drive or operate heavy machinery following your treatment. We require that you have someone to drive you home before we begin the infusion and ask that you abstain from alcohol or recreational drugs for at least 24 hours before and after treatment.

 

How Quickly Does It Take Effect?

For some patients, temporary relief of symptoms can occur within hours of the first infusion. However, it is important to note; this relief is typically short-lived. After several infusions over two-to-three weeks, this lifting of the depressive or anxious symptoms can be complete or markedly improved. However, it may last several weeks or months before beginning to fade. In addition, single-dose “booster” treatments at a period of two weeks to a few months after the initial induction infusions have been shown to prolong the antidepressant effect of the medication in many patients.

 

If you or someone you know suffers from Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, OCD, anxiety, or chronic pain and you would like to learn more, call us at 505-639-4973 or click here to schedule an appointment.

holiday stress

Holiday Depression and Anxiety

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The holiday season is in full swing, and with it comes family get-togethers, gift-giving, and celebrations. Holiday depression and anxiety, also known as the “holiday blues,” is natural for some of us, and the holidays can fill this time of year with anxiety, stress, and loneliness. It can be even more challenging for those who have a mental illness.  Of people with mental illness, 64% report holidays make their symptoms worse. (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2014 )

What causes holiday depression?

While depression, sadness, and anxiety are all very personal experiences, a few circumstances associated with the holiday season can contribute.

 

  • Fatigue
  • Stress
  • Finances
  • Inability to be with family or friends
  • Toxic family dynamics

 

All these factors, happening simultaneously, can be overwhelming even for those who aren’t suffering from a mental disorder. In addition, juggling added obligations during the holiday season can lead to stress responses such as headaches, excessive alcohol consumption, over-eating, and sleeplessness. These can lead to a dangerous cycle that is difficult to come out of once the holidays are over.

Coping with holiday depression and anxiety

It’s essential to have some tools at your disposal in the event depression or anxiety arrives. Set realistic expectations for the season, don’t take on more tasks and responsibilities than you can handle, try to prioritize by making lists, limit your drinking and try celebrating the holidays in a new, even unexpected way. By preparing for the season’s added stress, depression and anxiety can often be avoided or diminished.

When it’s more than a seasonal condition

For some, depression and anxiety don’t end after the holidays are over. In fact, for those with diagnosed depressive disorders, the stress of the holidays can trigger episodes of major depression that can last weeks, even months. In these cases, task lists and prioritizing will not be of any use. Instead, it is crucial to seek out treatment to avoid worsening symptoms. Traditionally, psychotherapy and psychotropic drugs are prescribed. But, unfortunately, relief with these treatments can take time and seldom provide immediate relief for patients.

Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder

Ketamine infusion therapy has proven to be rapidly effective in providing remission of depressive symptoms of major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and bipolar disorder, in some cases providing temporary relief within hours of the first infusion. Repeat administration over a short period (typically two weeks) can extend the length of remission, with some patients enjoying improvement for as long as six months. Additional “booster” treatments can be given that continually extend the length of remission of symptoms. Ketamine infusions are safe, rapid, and effective. Consequently, ketamine infusion therapy is revolutionizing the treatment of depressive disorders.

 

To learn more about Ketamine Infusion Therapy, click here or call 505-639-4973 to schedule a private consultation.

Tranquility Ketamine Clinic is a leading provider of ketamine infusion therapy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded by two experienced emergency room physicians with over 50 years combined practice administering ketamine in the emergency department, the clinic provides effective treatments for depression, PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), chronic pain, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), anxiety, stress, and burnout in comfortable private rooms at its Northeast Albuquerque location.

healthcare workers

Healthcare Workers and Mental Health During a Pandemic

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It’s been nearly two years since the COVID-19 outbreak was categorized officially as a pandemic. Hospitals were overwhelmed in many parts of the US by COVID cases due to lack of space, not enough ventilators, and not enough PPE for hospital workers or anyone else in the healthcare field that might be exposed to patients suffering from the virus. In addition, protocols for those in the health field changed almost daily to keep everyone safe while the nation’s leaders figured out the next steps in real-time. The toll this has taken on our healthcare workers, and mental health has yet to be fully realized.

Healthcare Workers and Mental Health Before the Pandemic

The mental health needs of our frontline healthcare workers have been gaining attention in recent years. Being exposed to multiple stress factors within their work naturally takes a toll. According to Frontiers in Public Health, heavy workloads, long shifts, a fast-paced environment, lack of physical safety, and more contribute to the problem. Healthcare workers will often push through long, stressful shifts for long periods with little to no recovery time. These factors are putting them at risk for burnout. What is burnout? Defined as an occupational phenomenon in ICD-11: “Burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: (1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; (2) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and (3) reduced professional efficacy. Burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life” According to Mental Health America, 76% of healthcare workers have burnout due to the pandemic.

Burnout Isn’t the Only Problem

Healthcare workers are also reporting symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and even suicidal ideation. The KFF and Washington Post surveyed 1327 healthcare workers regarding pandemic-related stress, and nearly half of the respondents reported problems sleeping; 31% reported frequent headaches or stomach aches. In addition, 16% said they had increased their drug or alcohol use, and about half say they have experienced at least one of these issues.

What can be done?

When experiencing burnout, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issue, the key is to reach out for help. In addition to modifying behaviors, such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, practicing mindfulness techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation, accessing mental health resources should be at the top of the list. As a Ketamine Infusion Clinic, we treat a large number of healthcare workers with our groundbreaking treatments. These infusions can provide almost immediate relief for the conditions listed above.

How Does Ketamine Work?

Regarding depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and chronic anxiety; these mental health disorders are all thought to be due to the destructive effect of continual stress on the brain, leading to neuronal damage and the creation of maladaptive neural activity and abnormal thought patterns indicative of these disorders.

Research suggests that one of ketamine’s significant actions is as an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist; that is, it blocks activation of the NMDA receptor. This action leads to increased glutamate release, which is involved in neuronal plasticity and synaptic growth and repair. Through complex pathways, these effects lead to the release of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a substance responsible for the maintenance of healthy neurons and their connections, known as synapses.

Increased BDNF has been shown to repair and regrowth of damaged synapses and their neuronal connections caused by chronic stress in animal models. Likewise, in humans, ketamine is thought to create new neuronal circuits and repair the healthy neuronal connections that existed in the brain before the patient suffered from depression, PTSD, OCD, or chronic anxiety.

We offer 10% off our services for all healthcare workers. If you are interested in exploring Ketamine Infusion Therapy to treat Burnout, anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation, call our clinic at 505-639-4973 or click here.

 

woman looking at hot air balloons

Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Anxiety Disorders; A New Approach

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According to the ADAA, Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults aged 18 or older or 18.1% of the population every year. Anxiety disorders often develop from a complex set of risk factors such as genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. In addition, those with a chronic anxiety disorder are more likely to suffer from depression or vice versa.

What is Chronic Anxiety?

Chronic anxiety, among other mental health disorders such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, are all thought to be due to the destructive effect of continual stress on the brain, leading to neuronal damage and the creation of maladaptive neural activity and abnormal thought patterns indicative of these disorders.

According to statistics, only 36.9% of those suffering from anxiety disorders receive treatment. Those who seek treatment are often given either a generic antidepressant, such as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), an SNRI (selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), or a benzodiazepine. If they don’t respond to one of these, they get a trial of another or several, unfortunately, it. Unfortunately, it has shown that as many as 40% of these patients will not achieve remission when 3 or 4 traditional agents are used, including cognitive-behavioral therapy or mentalization-based therapy.

Ketamine and Anxiety Disorders

Research suggests that one of ketamine’s significant actions is as an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist; that is, it blocks activation of the NMDA receptor. This action leads to increased release of glutamate, which is known to be involved in neuronal plasticity and synaptic growth and repair. Through complex pathways, these effects lead to the release of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a substance responsible for the maintenance of healthy neurons and their connections, known as synapses.

Increased BDNF reportedly brings about repair and regrowth of damaged synapses and neuronal connections caused by chronic stress in animal models. Likewise, in humans, ketamine is thought to assist in creating new neuronal circuits and/or repair of the healthy neuronal connections that existed in the brain before the patient suffered from depression, PTSD, OCD, and/or chronic anxiety disorder.

Ketamine Treatment Timeline

Most patients report feeling immediate relief from their anxiety-induced symptoms. In a small study of patients with generalized anxiety disorder and/or social anxiety disorder, the impact of just one infusion lasted for up to 14 weeks. Most treatments, however, begin with a series of several infusions over two weeks, and single-dose “booster” treatments are administered at a period of two weeks to months after the initial transfusion. This method has been shown to prolong the effect of the medication in many patients.

According to Prakash Masand, MD, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Centers of Psychiatric Excellence (COPE) (https://www.copepsychiatry.com) and adjunct professor at the Academic Medicine Education Institute, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (Duke-NUS), “Ketamine has been studied and shown [to be] effective with an array of anxiety disorders, including SAD, general anxiety disorder (GAD), and PTSD.”

Ketamine Infusions Available Right Here in Albuquerque

The use of ketamine continues to be studied and used as an effective treatment for various mood disorders. As part of the medical and psychotherapy community, we are committed to developing ways to collaborate when offering patients faster, safer, and more effective solutions to improve their quality of life.

To learn more about Ketamine Infusion Therapy, click here or call 505-639-4973 to schedule a private consultation.

Tranquility Ketamine Clinic is a leading provider of ketamine infusion therapy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded by two experienced emergency room physicians with over 50 years combined practice administering ketamine in the emergency department, the clinic provides effective treatments for depression, PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), chronic pain, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), anxiety, stress, and burnout in comfortable private rooms at its Northeast Albuquerque location.