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.

suicide prevention

Ketamine Infusion Therapy: Helping Those with Suicidal Ideation

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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Bringing awareness to this often-stigmatized topic is key to ensuring those who suffer from suicidal ideation can find the right resources to help them. As a clinic that specializes in treating Major Depressive Disorder, this subject is crucial to us.

 

The Statistics

Death by suicide has been on the rise for over a decade. In 2020, on average, 132 Americans died by suicide each day, and over 1.4 million Americans attempted suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Men are more likely to die by suicide 3.6 times more often than women; however, women were 1.4 times more likely to attempt it. Another surprising figure is suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-34 and the 4th leading cause of death ages 35-54.

 

The diagnosis

Most often, suicidal ideation is linked to an underlying mental health issue. For others, alcohol or substance abuse can play a role in suicidal thoughts. In some cases, suicidal thinking can be related to an underlying physical health problem, and blood tests or other medical tests may be necessary to diagnose. In yet another, albeit rare scenario, prescription or over-the-counter drugs can cause suicidal ideation. In any of the above situations, contacting a health professional is necessary to work through the cause of such thoughts.

 

Treatments

For non-emergency situations, a myriad of traditional outpatient treatments is available for those with suicidal ideation. Psychological counseling can help explore the issues that led to the suicidal thoughts and help learn skills to manage emotions. Medications are often prescribed, such as antidepressants, anti-psychotic drugs, anti-anxiety medications, etc., to help reduce symptoms. Addiction treatment can also aid those whose suicidal ideation stems from substance abuse.

 

Ketamine Infusion Therapy

In some instances, traditional therapies don’t provide the relief needed to recover from suicidal thoughts. Prescription medications can take weeks or months to take effect, and the efficacy is variable and often incomplete. As a result, 66% of patients suffer treatment-resistant depression and endure months of trial treatments and adjunctive therapies in hopes of relief.

 

Ketamine infusion therapy has proven to be rapidly effective in remission of depressive symptoms of MDD, TDD, and BD, in some cases providing temporary relief within hours of the first infusion. It is remarkably effective in aborting suicidal ideations with a single IV infusion. Ketamine has shown to be 70% effective in TDD. Although the response to a single infusion is short-lived (a matter of days), repeat administration over a short time (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.

 

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately. If you are interested in exploring Ketamine Infusion Therapy to treat suicidal ideation or depression, call our clinic at 505-639-4973 or click here.