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Ketamine Infusion Therapy And Treatment Clinics
So what is Ketamine infusion therapy? It refers to the more recent application of utilizing the treatment for a range of mental health conditions. If you were to undergo ketamine infusion therapy, you would do so because you were experiencing emotional distress that perhaps you have not been able to alleviate through other, more traditional means, such as psychiatric medication, some form of psychotherapy, or lifestyle changes.
This form of treatment is available at dedicated ketamine clinics. Unlike in a traditional medical context, you would receive sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine, so you are not unconscious or completely immune to pain. But you will experience some dissociative and psychedelic effects at this dosage level.
There are many important facets of ketamine infusion therapy that are worth exploring, from all the steps involved in the procedure to what the research tells us about its effectiveness.
What Is Ketamine Infusion Therapy?
Ketamine therapy will usually mean an IV injection, although both have proved to be effective in the treatment of depression, for instance. One reason why people prefer IV is that it has 100 percent bioavailability — meaning you know the exact dosage amount. IM has an impressive level of bioavailability (93 percent), but since it is not 100 percent, you can’t be aware of the exact amount entering the system circulation. Also, with IV, the drug rate can increase, decrease, or can stop at any time. This offers patients more control over the experience.
Ketamine-assisted therapy usually includes six rounds of infusions, administered over a period of two weeks. Research tells us this protocol is highly effective in alleviating symptoms of conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Before Undergoing Ketamine Infusion
Upon your first visit to a ketamine clinic, a psychiatry team will assess and evaluate you. If a clinic doesn’t take this step, you should avoid it. The team should carry out a comprehensive mental health screening, as well as a medical and physical exam to ensure that you’re the right candidate.
It’s crucial to understand that some mental health issues don’t mix well with ketamine; the drug can induce psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia, for example. Any reputable ketamine clinic that has your well-being in mind should be screening for these types of mental health issues, as well as any physical conditions, lifestyle habits, or medications that may interact negatively with the drug.
Once you have been deemed a suitable candidate for ketamine infusion therapy, you can agree on a treatment plan. This includes knowing how many infusions you will receive (a minimum of six is standard) and when you will have your first.
Preparing For A First Session
There are certain steps you should take to prepare for your ketamine therapy. As Daytryp Health Psychedelic Wellness Centers Founder and CEO Chris Cohn states, “We suggest fasting the day of your treatment. Water is fine but we tell our clients to fast or limit their food intake to a light meal 4 hours prior to their journey. We also recommend grounding, which is walking barefoot on the earth. The process of grounding releases endorphins and increases electrical activity in the brain, which is going to prepare you positively for your psychedelic experience.”
You should ideally before your first infusion because some of the known side effects of ketamine include nausea and vomiting. Having food in your stomach can make these possible effects worse.
You should also avoid having any other psychoactive substances in your system before the infusion. These would include depressants like alcohol and stimulants like caffeine, as these drugs can either exacerbate side effects or lead to various physical complications.
Preparing for ketamine therapy should also involve paying attention to your “set”. This is one-half of “set and setting“. It refers to the fact that your mindset influences the quality of a psychedelic experience. This can apply to ketamine, too.
You can mentally prepare for your ketamine experience by bringing yourself to a calm state. This is achievable through techniques like mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, ensuring a good night’s sleep before your session, or any other practice that helps you achieve present-mindedness and relaxation.
Getting yourself into a positive frame of mind will also improve your overall experience. Moreover, discussing your upcoming therapy with a loved one who you can trust can help calm any nerves you have. You can plan for this person to take you to the clinic, as well as to pick you up.
The Ketamine Infusion Session
When you go to a ketamine clinic for your first session, you will meet with your anesthesia care providers. The staff will walk you through the whole process. These professionals will also be present during its entirety, controlling and overseeing every step.
They will seat you in a comfortable chair in a relaxing setting, and then hook you up to an IV. You will usually wear headphones so you can listen to calming music during the session. Research is starting to show that the music you listen to in these psychedelic states can alter the direction and quality of the journey. Music falls under the “setting” part of set and setting.
The infusion time will last 45-60 minutes. This is a relatively quick session, especially when compared to psychedelic-assisted therapy involving psilocybin (which lasts around six hours).
What Happens After A Session
When your ketamine infusion session is over, you won’t be experiencing noticeable subjective effects like dissociation or hallucinations, but you may feel some after effects, as well as a change in your emotional state. The team supporting you at the clinic will likely transfer you to a spa-like setting after the session is complete, and then they will assess you before allowing you to go home.
Most clinics recommend that, after infusions, you don’t drive, operate heavy or dangerous machinery, make important decisions, sign legal documents, or engage in risky activities until the day after treatment. According to Chris, ketamine therapy patients should not drive for at least 6 hours after their journey.