Ketamine 101

Ketamine is an anesthetic, so it’s used in the medical world as anesthesia. It’s also used as an anesthesia in veterinary medicine, which is what led to it being incorrectly labeled as “horse tranquilizer” — contrary to this myth, ketamine is used on various animals. The dosage administered is dependent on the animal’s size. Ketamine was widely used as a surgical anesthetic in the Vietnam War due to its safety and effectiveness at relieving pain.

Party Scene

Ketamine entered the party scene in the 1970s, which led to it being labeled as a “party drug.” It was popularized in the party scene mainly due to its hallucinogenic properties. It became particularly popular within “rave” and “club” cultures. When abused, ketamine causes negative effects like slurred speech and confusion. If taken in high doses, it can lead to a loss of consciousness. These negative effects have helped build a bad stigma around the drug.

Ketamine As Treatment

In the early 2000s, researchers discovered that ketamine was able to relieve symptoms of depression. The way it works is not completely understood at this point, and researchers are still learning about how it’s able to help with mental health disorders. Studies have shown evidence that ketamine is able to relieve depression by forming new synapses in the brain, and may be able to repair circuits that had been damaged by stress. Unlike traditional depression treatments that take weeks to begin working, ketamine can relieve depression symptoms almost instantly. The relief can stay for weeks after the treatment. When given under the care of a medical professional, ketamine is a safe and effective treatment, despite its harmful effects if taken in large doses recreationally.

Ketamine is still widely regarded as a party drug. But it’s bad reputation seems to be changing as more research comes out about its ability to help people. If you’re interested in learning more about ketamine treatment options, contact us today.

The post How Did Ketamine Go From Party Drug To Treatment Method ? appeared first on Utica Ketamine Infusions.

Ketamine is currently gaining traction as an alternative treatment option for several mental illnesses. One of those illnesses is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a notoriously difficult disorder to treat, ketamine is offering hope to those struggling with this illness, particularly those who have been resistant to other treatment methods.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD is characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, uncontrollable thoughts, and anxiety revolving around a terrifying event one experienced in the past. While it’s normal to experience some of these symptoms after undergoing a trauma, PTSD occurs when these symptoms become worse over time instead of better, and ultimately interfere with daily functioning. The main symptoms are grouped into four categories: changes in physical or emotional reactions, intrusive thoughts, negative mood changes, and avoidance.

How Is PTSD Treated?

Treatment for PTSD typically involves various different methods. One of the most popular treatments for PTSD is therapy, which can help patients learn coping methods to deal with the illness and also relieve symptoms. Popular forms of therapy used to treat PTSD include exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy. Medications are often used in conjunction with therapy. Because people with PTSD have brains that process threats differently than brains of a healthy person, medications can be used to even out chemical imbalances in the brain and ultimately alleviate symptoms.

Ketamine & PTSD

When traditional treatment methods fail, ketamine may be a good alternative to consider for those struggling with PTSD. Unlike other medications that take several weeks to build up before they begin working, ketamine has been shown to offer relief from PTSD symptoms at a significantly more rapid pace. When used for the treatment of PTSD or other mental health disorders, ketamine is administered intravenously by a doctor or nurse. The doses are kept at low levels, making the treatment safe and non-addictive. While medications often come with unwanted side effects, ketamine treatments are relatively free of them.

PTSD can get worse if left untreated, so if you or someone you know may be struggling with this disorder, it’s crucial that you seek advice from a medical professional. The good news is that with the right treatment option, recovery is possible. To learn more about PTSD, and to see if ketamine may be right for you, contact us.

The post PTSD & Ketamine: What You Should Know appeared first on Utica Ketamine Infusions.

While cultural views of ketamine are shifting, there’s a still lot of misunderstanding surrounding the safety of ketamine infusions. One of the most common concerns we hear about is the worry that ketamine infusions could lead to addiction. Today, we’re taking a closer look at what ketamine is, how it works, and whether or not it’s addictive when used in a controlled, safe environment.

Ketamine 101

It’s important to understand the basics of ketamine before discussing the effects or risks involved. Ketamine can help to relieve pain, and it was first used as an anesthetic in the Vietnam War. Since then, ketamine became notoriously known as a party drug—when taken in high doses, it can cause you to hallucinate, dissociate, and lose consciousness. However, ketamine is now generating a buzz for its beneficial properties. When administered in safe doses, ketamine has been shown to cure depression symptoms when other forms of antidepressants fail to work.

How Does Ketamine Work?

Research is still being conducted, and scientists aren’t positive how ketamine works to relieve depression. However, we do know ketamine works differently than conventional antidepressant medications. Most drugs are able to treat depression work by targeting one of the “monoamine” neurotransmitters, whereas ketamine targets glutamate. In simple terms, ketamine appears to foster the regrowth of connections amongst brain cells associated with our moods. Unlike standard antidepressant medications, ketamine seems to relieve depression symptoms almost instantly.

Is Ketamine Addictive?

With all the knowledge we have about the negative effects of ketamine abuse, it makes sense that people are concerned about the drug. When it’s abused, ketamine can be an addictive substance. But when it’s administered by a professional as a form of depression treatment, ketamine does not appear to be addictive. Special care is given to the dosage, frequency, and method the ketamine is administered in so that patients are safe and protected from any possibility of addition.

Ketamine myths are still alive and well in our culture, but as people learn more about the real benefits of the drug, perceptions are shifting. Education is the only way we can successfully inform people about the benefits of ketamine. In order to change people’s negative perceptions about this non-typical depression treatment, knowledge is key. To learn more about how ketamine can help treat depression, contact us today.

The post Are Ketamine Infusions Addictive? appeared first on Utica Ketamine Infusions.

Ketamine is a drug that’s misunderstood in our society. Like other drugs, ketamine can be dangerous when it’s abused for recreational use  and taken in high doses. However, when administered by a doctor in a safe setting, ketamine can offer valuable benefits, including decreased depression symptoms. Here are a few of the most common myths surrounding ketamine.

Ketamine Myth: It’s a Horse Tranquilizer

One of ketamine street drug names is “Special K.” This has come to be known as a horse tranquilizer. The truth is, ketamine is used in veterinary practices as an anesthetic, the same way it has been used on people. The difference is that the doses used on larger animals greatly surpass the dosage that would be used on humans for mental health treatment. When ketamine is labeled as a “horse tranquilizer,” it conjures imagery of a dangerous drug that could knock a person out. But ketamine isn’t just used on horses—it’s used on many animals, and the dosage will depend on the size of the animal.

Ketamine Myth: Treatment Can Lead To Addiction

Another common ketamine myth is that it will lead to ketamine addiction. While ketamine is not physically addictive, it can be addictive psychologically addictive when it’s abuse for recreational usage. However, when administered by a doctor or nurse in a controlled environment, it is safe. When receiving ketamine infusions for depression, patients will be given safe dosages and will receive the treatment from a medical professional. When ketamine is administered in this matter, it is not addictive.

Ketamine Myth: It’s Harmful To Your Body

Due to the risks associated with recreational ketamine usage, there is a myth that receiving ketamine treatments could be harmful to your health. The harmful effects of ketamine, such as a loss of consciousness and psychosis, occur when large doses of the drug are taken in unsafe settings. These risks are not present when ketamine infusions for depression are given to patients by trained medical professionals.

Ketamine infusions are a breakthrough treatment for depression. But it’s important to educate people on the safety and risks of ketamine use and abuse. If we can put the myths to rest, more people may have access to this treatment option. To find out more about ketamine treatments, reach out to us today.

The post 3 Common Ketamine Myths appeared first on Utica Ketamine Infusions.