The field of medicine is ever-evolving and dynamic. Medications initially developed for a particular purpose may be beneficial in treating whole new conditions. Ketamine is one of the medications used to treat ailments other than the one it was first developed to treat. The anesthetic drug ketamine has come a long way from its days as a battlefield and operating room staple to become a viable option for treating severe depression, cancer-related nerve pain, and other conditions. With professional providers such as Howell ReYou, you can expect several advantages of ketamine infusion treatment. These include:
Reduce dependence on narcotic painkillers
When using ketamine, you may require less narcotic pain medication. Because tolerance and problems are more likely with prolonged opioid usage, this is a significant benefit. Ketamine might be helpful as an additional method of relieving chronic pain.
Restoring mental health
By stimulating the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway, ketamine promotes enhanced synaptic connections in the brain. An essential function of this signaling pathway is to aid in the repair of dysfunctional synapses. The regions of the brain responsible for learning, memory, and emotional control are particularly affected by Ketamine Therapy. It helps alleviate depression and prepares the patient for some psychological recovery. In the long run, this might help people build the kind of resistance that keeps depression at bay.
Quick relief from symptoms
Ketamine infusions relieve depressed symptoms rapidly, usually within hours. Although the precise mechanisms responsible for this powerful impact have yet to be identified, scientists know ketamine causes a fast spike in glutamate.
Glutamate, the primary neurotransmitter that promotes synaptic development, helps build and repair crucial neuronal connections and pathways in the areas of the brain that are most affected by depression, hence inducing favorable changes in brain circuit function.
Increased safety
When administered correctly, ketamine has no discernible impact on respiratory rate or blood pressure. Because of this, it is a highly safe medicine to use during surgery, unlike many others that give a sedating effect but may cause low blood pressure, which can be dangerous.
Very few adverse repercussions
The fact that Ketamine Infusion Therapy has no known long-term adverse effects and just mild short-term ones is auspicious. A small percentage of patients report experiencing modest dissociative effects during the painless infusion. These effects are often pleasant or soothing. Some people feel a little queasy, but some medications may greatly diminish or remove this adverse effect altogether. Patients should rest for the rest of the day if they have any weariness following the procedure. Ketamine’s negative effects are far less than those of antidepressant drugs, which may range from increased appetite and dizziness to decreased libido and sleepiness.
High success rate
Still, under investigation, ketamine infusion treatment has been shown to have a high success rate in treating chronic depression. Several studies show that more than half of persons with TRD get considerable symptom reduction after only one infusion, and even more experience relief after receiving two or three infusions. People who have not found long-term relief with conventional medical treatments might benefit significantly from ketamine infusion therapy since it has a high success rate.
For many patients who had no luck with prior treatments, ketamine infusion therapy has been a lifesaver. Talk to your doctor about whether or not you qualify for ketamine infusion therapy if you’re considering trying it.
