The media attention surrounding ketamine clinics has been rapidly increasing over the past few years, and its reputation as a “wonder drug” has resulted in skyrocketing popularity and a surge of ketamine clinics opening across the country. Previously known to the world as the party drug “Special K,” and also used in hospitals as an anesthetic and acute pain management solution, ketamine is now being widely researched for its ability to treat depression. There are controversial opinions around its use, but as a leading ketamine clinic we have seen it save lives.
Of course, once the media got its hands on this new “miracle depression treatment,” the facts began to spiral out of control, making it difficult for people to discern fact from fiction. The publicity that ketamine has been receiving is great—it brings hope to patients suffering from severe depressive or suicidal symptoms. However, along with hope there needs to be education.
Here are the top #5 things you should know about ketamine for depression:
1. Ketamine can be expensive. Typically, insurance companies do not cover non-FDA approved treatments, like ketamine, that are considered experimental. The drug itself is not the costly part, but the facilities, machines and professional medical supervision needed to supply a series of injections are.
2. Effects of long-term use. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Cristina Cusin, a psychiatrist who studies ketamine, the long-term consequences of ketamine use is unknown. However, ketamine has been used regularly since the 1960s with minimal adverse events being recorded.
3. Ketamine is not a replacement for traditional depression treatments. Ketamine should not be considered a first-line treatment for depression, but rather as a “saving grace” for those patients who have tried everything to no avail. It works best in combination with traditional depression treatments, such as talk therapy and holistic depression therapies.
4. There are other options for treatment-resistant depression. Many medical professionals will prescribe treatments like electroconvulsive therapy, psychotherapy, or antidepressants, as there is substantial evidence for their success. However, ketamine is more rapid-acting and has a higher success rate, improving symptoms in more than 70% of patients.
5. There is no easy fix for depression. Ketamine must be administered under medical supervision and is not generally permitted as a take home drug for depression. Receiving ketamine infusions is a highly involved process. Patients cannot simply walk into a ketamine clinic, pay the fee, and receive infusions—and if this is the case at your clinic, you may want to look into finding a more reputable provider.
Our clinic has seen ketamine produce rapid, highly-effective and lasting results for patients who suffer from depression. The 70% success rate means something. First-hand, we have seen how these infusions increase a person’s quality of life. The hope that ketamine brings to those who have none is why we do what we do.
Contact Ketamine Greater Boston
Are you a candidate for ketamine infusions? Please contact our Boston area ketamine clinic today to find out. Our professional staff will answer any questions you have, and get you setup with a free consultation. We love seeing the joy and fulfillment come back into the lives of our patients—and we want to see joy and fulfillment come back into your life, too.
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