Who is a good candidate for Ketamine Therapy?
By Jennifer Hammond Eze MSN, CRNA, ARNP
Ketamine has been in the news of late; almost everyone is talking about this anesthetic medication. Some people claim that it is a miracle drug for mental health and chronic pain disorders. So, what is Ketamine? Who is a good candidate for Ketamine Therapy?
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1970. Ketamine was initially known as CI-581; it was first synthesized by Calvin L. Stevens PhD in 1962 from Phencyclidine. Ketamine inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors; it also binds to opioid, noradrenergic, cholinergic, nicotinic, and muscarinic receptors. In the field of Anesthesia, Ketamine is used for sedation, analgesia, and general anesthesia. More recently, Ketamine is being used as an antidepressant for treatment-resistant mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
What is Ketamine Therapy?
When Ketamine is administered in a clinical setting, it is known as Ketamine Therapy. Ketamine can be administered intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), intranasal and oral. IV Ketamine and IM Ketamine are more effective than intranasal or oral Ketamine. In the clinical setting, the patient is monitored continuously during Ketamine administration. Monitoring is required because after all, Ketamine is an anesthetic medication and the healthcare provider administering Ketamine should be prepared to deal with cardiovascular and respiratory complications.
What medical conditions can benefit from Ketamine Therapy?
Ketamine Therapy has been shown to be effective for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain.
- Treatment-Resistant Depression – Ketamine has been shown to decrease depression symptoms rapidly, within hours to days.
- Post-Traumatic Stress disorder – Ketamine can help reduce PTSD symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, and hyperarousal.
- Anxiety – studies have shown that Ketamine can reduce symptoms of anxiety.
- Pain – Research suggests that Ketamine prevents hyperalgesia and central sensitization that occur in acute pain. Ketamine is also effective for chronic pain conditions such as neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
What factors should be considered when selecting patients for Ketamine Therapy?
Patient selection should be given a lot of thought especially in Ketamine Therapy. Some patients are suitable for Ketamine Therapy and others are not. The factors to consider include the following:
- The severity of the condition – A key factor to consider is the severity of the mental health condition or chronic pain condition. Ketamine therapy is considered in individuals with severe symptoms who have not responded to other forms of treatment.
- Prior Treatment – Another factor to consider is prior treatment. What medications is the patient on? Is the patient receiving psychotherapy? How successful were the previous treatments? Ketamine Therapy is considered when traditional treatment options have failed.
- Medical history – A comprehensive medical history must be obtained in order to determine if a candidate is suitable for Ketamine Therapy. Contraindications to Ketamine Therapy includes psychosis, pregnancy and allergic reactions.
Ketamine Therapy at Lakeview Wellness Clinic.
If you or a loved one is suffering from treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain, Ketamine Therapy can offer the hope and healing that you need. Give us a call at 2062746953 or email us at info@thelakeviewclinic.com to find out if Ketamine Therapy is appropriate for you.
References
Kumar, A., & Kohli, A. (2021). Comeback of ketamine: resurfacing facts and dispelling
myths. Korean journal of anesthesiology, 74(2), 103–114.
