Many people think of ketamine as a “club drug.” Ketamine, however, has a long history of medical use, with mounds of research to support its safety and efficacy when administered by trained professionals. Most commonly, ketamine is used as an anesthetic for surgery in adults and children, as well as a treatment option for depression, chronic pain, and epilepsy.
The stigma of ketamine being a party drug is slowly being stripped away as doctors explore the medical and potentially life-saving benefits it provides. Over the past 20 years, researchers have been uncovering many different uses for the drug. Perhaps the most exciting is the discovery that ketamine can often alleviate depression symptoms in a matter of hours. This is a sharp deviation from traditional antidepressants, which sometimes take weeks to begin working.
Research has pointed to ketamine targeting a different neurotransmitter from traditional antidepressants as the reason for its success. Overactive glutamate receptor genes can cause imbalances with Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) causing changes in mental health, such as the development of depression. Ketamine targets glutamate, restoring the calming nature of this neurotransmitter, thus providing relief from depression symptoms.
IV ketamine infusions are administered by medical professionals after a consultation has been conducted and a treatment plan formulated. Dosage, rate, and duration will be determined based on your medical history. Typically, infusions last between 45-60 minutes, after which you will feel relaxed, and someone can take you home.
If you are interested in learning more about ketamine and to see if it is a good treatment option for you, we would be happy to schedule a consultation. At Emerge Ketamine, we offer a full spectrum of psychiatric services, including ketamine infusions.
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