Ketamine got its start as a dissociative anesthetic in the 1960s. Used for its analgesic and sympathomimetic properties and its wide margin of safety, it was widely administered as a field anesthetic to soldiers during the Vietnam war. In the last 20 years, research has consistently shown that low doses of ketamine, administered intravenously, can rapidly relieve depressive symptoms in patients whose depression has been otherwise untreatable. Intravenous (IV) ketamine infusion therapy has emerged as a treatment option for a variety of chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia, small fiber neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and psychiatric conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and so much more.

Who qualifies for Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

Individuals suffering from major depression, bipolar depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe anxiety – including those who have been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression – are candidates for ketamine infusion therapy. Ketamine infusions are oftentimes very effective for people having suicidal thoughts, who are in need of immediate mood stabilization. Ketamine infusions should be considered if a person is not responding positively to residential treatment programs, antidepressants or other pharmacological solutions, psychotherapy, or other forms of treatment. Ketamine treatments are not for individuals diagnosed with mild depression, situational depression, or mood swings.
 
Ketamine has been successful in treating CRPS/RSD, Treatment-Resistant Depression, PTSD, Migraines, Anxiety, OCD, and Social Anxiety Disorder. Research shows that low doses of Ketamine can rapidly relieve Mood Disorder symptoms in patients whose mental illnesses have been untreatable. ​At NeuroMedici, we recognize each patient is unique and will receive a treatment plan best for them. 
​

What should I expect when going to my first Ketamine Infusion?

Some patients experience immense relief just after one infusion, while others may notice their symptoms subside days or weeks following the infusion. Each patient will have their own treatment plan based on your own specific symptoms, goals, and needs.
Once you are approved to schedule your Ketamine infusion, you will be given a treatment plan that advises how many infusions you need.

 

At NeuroMedici, our Infusions rooms are set to be welcoming and peaceful. You will have the option to listen to music or draw/write. No two experiences are alike with ketamine, and there is a wide variety of experiences between people. However, depending on the dose of ketamine and for how long you receive the infusion, you may experience anything from being more aware of how your body feels, quieting of the mind, feelings of love and gratitude, all the way to feeling connected to the Universe/God, death of your ego, and reliving past experiences from a different perspective.

 

Our goal is to ensure that the infusion goes smoothly as possible and that you are completely comfortable. Our staff at NeuroMedici will do everything we can to ensure you have a good infusion.

is this therapy right for me?

Ketamine targets NMDA receptors in the brain. By binding to these receptors, ketamine appears to increase the amount of a neurotransmitter called glutamate in the spaces between neurons. Glutamate then activates connections in another receptor, called the AMPA receptor. Together, the initial blockade of NMDA receptors and activation of AMPA receptors leads to the release of other molecules that help neurons communicate with each other along new pathways. Known as synaptogenesis, this process likely affects mood, thought patterns, and cognition.

How does it work?