Can a Ketamine Infusion Treat Depression?

Psychiatrists use ketamine infusion therapy to treat patients with TRD (treatment-resistant depression). Patients with MDD (major depressive disorder) tend to develop TRD. They do not respond to the antidepressants anymore. This can result in life-threatening situations. With ketamine infusion, people who suffer from TRD can have a chance at a better life. If you want to know if ketamine infusion can treat patients with depression, here are the facts.

Aspects of ketamine infusion

Ketamine works in a few hours. This is good for patients who wait for weeks or even months for their antidepressants to take effect. The quick effect of ketamine infusion is important. It prevents a depressed person from doing self-harm.

Patients get relief on the same day, right after stepping out of the infusion center. Most patients even return to work after being on disability for months. Ketamine’s effects linger even if the patient only has one infusion in a month. Patients usually need to stop taking antidepressants because of the lasting adverse effects.

These side effects tend to debilitate the patients. Because of this, patients cannot do their everyday activities. The negative effects of ketamine infusion only last during the time of the therapy. The infusion targets the negative symptoms right away. It does not mask or conceal them.

Scheduling more treatments

Many patients can decrease the ketamine sessions as depression symptoms reduce. Even if patients do this, returning for more treatments at some point is possible. An event could trigger depression again. The patient’s symptoms might worsen, or a new episode occurs. If this happens, the patient could return for at least one treatment. The patient might also need another series of ketamine infusion.

Reasons for choosing ketamine infusion

Depression is a huge problem. If a patient responds well to ketamine infusion, that patient can have a better life. The positive response could even prevent suicides. This therapy could help people with a combination of anxiety and depression. It can help patients go back to their regular routine and be part of the community again.

ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) is also an effective treatment for patients with MDD. Even so, it is an invasive method that uses intense surges of electricity to stimulate the brain. While an ECT treatment needs anesthesia, a ketamine infusion does not. The patient could even relax in an infusion room as the therapy goes on.

The experience of receiving the infusion

Most patients feel a sensation of floating during the therapy session. This usually happens with mild hallucinations. Patients can also experience different sets of feelings in separate infusions. Dizziness is also common.

Ketamine infusion can treat your severe depression

Depression can be life-threatening. Patients with severe depression tend to suffer from complications and perform self-harm. These patients do not improve from standard depression treatments. Ketamine infusion is quick and effective in improving depression symptoms. It is also a less-invasive way to treat depression. Having a custom-fit ketamine infusion session each time is important.

Get more information about Future Psych Solutions in Columbia at https://futurepsychsolutions.com.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: ketamine infusion in Columbia, SC.