Ketamine For Depression
Fast & Efficient Depression Treatment in Gallatin, TN & Nashville
By several counts, in excess of 350 million people worldwide deal with depression every year. At its toughest, depression can be completely incapacitating. Fortunately, Three Rivers Wellness can help clients find peace of mind and substance in life with Nashville functional medicine.
If you have tried other treatments and therapies that have provided little to no relief, then you might be a good candidate for ketamine infusion therapy, a new treatment option for those battling treatment-resistant depression symptoms.
Around 70 to 85 percent of patients who have tried ketamine for depression report a positive effect and quick relief from symptoms.
Ketamine Infusions for Depression Treatment
Ketamine infusions for depression are quickly becoming one of the most popular treatment options for various mood disorders including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and bipolar disorder.
Unlike many traditional medications like SSRIs which can take months to start working, ketamine therapy offers patients relief quickly, with some individuals reporting relief within a few hours of their first infusion session.
What are the Symptoms of Depression?
Some patients may only encounter a depressive episode once in life, but for most, depression will linger and bring on many episodes over the course of one’s life. During these depressive episodes, symptoms can include:
- Persistent feelings of hopelessness or hollowness
- Unexplained physical aches, such as headaches or backaches
- Feelings of sadness
- Frequent spells of tearfulness
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Angry outbursts
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Trouble sleeping
- Changes in appetite (either weight loss or weight gain)
How Does Ketamine Help Treat Depression?
Scientists believe that ketamine infusions help depression symptoms by rapidly boosting the activity of glutamate, a neurotransmitter inside the brain’s frontal cortex, while also allowing new pathways to form in the same area.
The rapid onset of ketamine’s antidepressant effect occurs because ketamine bypasses the conventional serotonin path, instead switching on glutamate.
This is remarkably different from conventional antidepressants, which initially boost serotonin activity levels in several different areas of the brain to then ultimately affect glutamate. This process can take weeks or even months, while ketamine infusions can provide rapid relief from depression symptoms.
Are There Any Adverse Effects of Ketamine?
As a new treatment option for depression, ketamine does have a few minor side effects. These can include a dream-like feeling, disrupted vision, lightheadedness, nausea, or some slight anxious feelings after treatment.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication utilized in “off-label” use for infusion therapy. Off-label use indicates that it is a treatment that the FDA did not initially authorize. The FDA approves prescription medications only for specific uses, but most medications at some point develop off-label uses as a result of the clinical experience that develops with time.
As a good example, the FDA authorized the medication Prazosin to treat hypertension in 1976, but it is now mainly used for the treatment of nightmares in individuals with PTSD, a use that was not at first approved.
Where Will I Receive My Ketamine Infusions?
During treatment, we go above and beyond to make sure all of our patients feel as comfortable as possible in their own private rooms. Infusions for mood disorders typically last 40-60 minutes, while chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia require a larger dose and can take 2-4 hours.
A number of our patients refer to a “dissociative” effect, and most of our patients respond positively to this sensation. In many cases, this dissociation effect is what aids with your treatment and delivers a positive response to ketamine therapy.
These are all ordinary components of the treatment. You will always remain in a safe atmosphere with our team there to monitor you and be readily available during your infusion.
Is Ketamine Treatment The Right Solution for You?
Are you ready to take back control of your life? Are you tired of trying one medication after another, only to be left with the same feelings of depression? If so, ketamine infusion therapy might be an excellent option for you.
Contact Three Rivers Wellness in Gallatin, TN, and Nashville to request your consultation and learn how ketamine infusions for depression treatment can change your life.
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