Depressive ailments vary from person to person, and not all treatments are effective for every patient. A controversial treatment called “ketamine infusion therapy” has become popular lately and has helped many patients disappointed by traditional healing procedures. It’s controversial because people either deny its healing powers altogether or christen it as a “miracle drug.” In reality, ketamine therapy can work for some patients and may not cure other patients at all. It all depends on your medical history and other factors affecting your well-being. This article covers the general benefits of ketamine therapy that studies and surveys have attested. But consult professionals before undergoing this process.
How does ketamine therapy benefit you?
The reputation of ketamine as a healing element came under question in the 1970s when it came to be known as a “controlled substance” under the Nixon administration. On the one hand, it’s always been popular among partygoers, but on the other hand, it’s helped many patients overcome depression.
This article discusses the benefits of ketamine infusion therapy. Most rehab centers offer six sessions across 2-3 weeks while keeping the patient under supervision to regulate its side effects. A session lasts forty minutes, and patients are also given the FDA-approved nasal spray called esketamine. Studies have shown that ketamine therapy can help patients with mental health issues. Its advantages include:
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- Quicker results
Patients have observed that ketamine starts showing its healing powers right after the third dosage. That’s why many patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder are using it to overcome the condition. A Stanford Medicine article published in 2017 indicates how many private clinics use ketamine for OCD and PTSD among patients. This accelerated patient progress has given hope to many disappointed by traditional methods and needed help.
- Regulates pain
Many patients have discovered that ketamine helps them block feelings of pain. So, it’s helpful in treating problems such as CRPS or complex regional pain syndrome. When these excessive pain signals are blocked, the patient gets immediate relief from aching. That’s how ketamine therapy can lead to an almost soothing effect. In other words, ketamine helps your body reboot and heal itself. However, a patient shouldn’t forget that this soothing effect may get addictive if overused.
- Lasting effects
Moreover, ketamine therapy’s impact on your well-being can sometimes be long-lasting. In other words, while other treatments may lose efficacy, ketamine-based procedures can keep people healthy for a long time. If you follow the aftercare processes faithfully, your chances of staying healthy increase. Even small dosages of ketamine are effective at treating patients. But remember, it is just a treatment plan, not a permanent cure for your problems. So, use ketamine carefully.
- Reduces inflammation
It’s crucial to discuss the physical benefits of ketamine infusion therapy because your mental health is connected with your physical well-being. Some Harvard researchers observed that ketamine could reduce inflammation-causing brain signals, enhancing your mind-body connection. In other words, ketamine therapy doesn’t just improve your mental health but can also help you get healthy physically. Hence, treating your mental problems directly reduces their physical manifestations.
- Reduced depression
Studies have revealed that ketamine can serve as an accelerated antidepressant, helping many patients overcome depression in a matter of hours/days. For instance, the Washington Post says ketamine therapy has been effective among 50-70 percent of depressed patients, whereas any traditional antidepressants show results in several weeks. It’s because ketamine affects glutamate in your brain, making the brain more receptive to treatment procedures for quicker healing.
- Better adaptability
Another reason why patients favor ketamine is how it enables the brain’s neural networks to change and adapt. When your brain’s neural networks cannot reorganize, depression becomes persistent. A ketamine therapy session improves neuroplasticity by affecting glutamate, thereby significantly bolstering your thought patterns. Your improved neural connections make you resistant to depression, enhancing your brain’s adaptability. That’s how ketamine causes those long-term health effects.
- Rejuvenated feelings
As we have explained before, ketamine is popular among partygoers for its psychedelic effects. You shouldn’t forget that it’s also a hallucinogen when excessively utilized. Small doses can allow a patient to rejuvenate emotions and even achieve a mental breakthrough. The dissociative impact of ketamine, under controlled conditions, will allow you to regain new emotional insights. Maybe, you can get in touch with some long-lost feelings that were forgotten due to a depressive episode.
- Healed synapses
Relapse often plagues almost-healed patients of depression, and healing synapses can prevent this. A ketamine therapy session, therefore, strengthens your brain’s synaptic connections. So, patients can feel some improvement in the parts of the brain commonly associated with learning and memory. A patient’s healed synapses contribute to the patient’s psychological well-being, thereby stopping the depression from returning. In other words, ketamine therapy can make you resilient against it!
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- Fewer cons
In the end, one question remains to be asked: What are the side effects of ketamine? Every drug has certain demerits, and ketamine isn’t an exception. Though one may argue that these cons are scant in number! Some patients may undergo some pleasing dissociative episodes, e.g., they think they are floating. Other side effects involve nausea and fatigue. However, these side effects aren’t that many. Just remember that ketamine may not be safe for you if you suffer from these issues:
- Stroke
- Hallucinations
- Heart problems
- High blood pressure
- Alcohol intoxication
Conclusion
We’ve established that ketamine can help mental health patients improve, and this substance seems to be returning recently. It reduces depression, decreased inflammation, and helps recover your synapses. Moreover, it allows better adaptability while rejuvenating a patient’s emotional well-being. A ketamine therapy session offers quicker outcomes and permanent recovery for many patients. You may also find it relatively affordable because of its long-lasting impact and fewer side effects. However, don’t pursue this recovery process without asking your doctor first. Your medical history can reveal whether it’s safe for you, especially if you want ketamine for OCD, PTSD, and other mental health issues.