The gloom of depression and existential disruption of PTSD can be all consuming and unrelenting. For some patients, medications work beautifully. For others, lifestyle modifications and therapy help to lessen the effects. But for many, depression and PTSD symptoms persist despite treatment, and may even worsen over time.
Thanks to ketamine, a drug historically used for pain, patients who suffer at this magnitude have new hope.
“Ketamine works differently than other psychiatric medications historically available to patients,” said Joshua Flatow, a psychiatrist at Pacific Mind Health in Los Angeles, Calif. “We are excited to offer this innovative therapy to patients and optimize their mental health outcomes.”
The study explored the efficacy, safety and clinical guidelines for the use of ketamine in the two focus areas of treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. However it also found that ketamine provided relief for a variety of other mental health problems and symptoms, including fatigue, anhedonia, and suicidal ideation.
Low-Doses of IV Ketamine Delivered Improved Symptoms in Hours
“Ketamine produces a dissociative experience, which means that patients feel a peculiar disconnect from their body while their brain undergoes an intensely new sensation,” said Joshua Flatow, a psychiatrist at Pacific Mind Health. “The effects are instantly transformative for some and delayed for others, but are felt far sooner than the typical 4-week delay associated with more traditional antidepressants.”
Ketamine, like opioids, has potential for abuse because of its dissociative effect, particularly for patients with substance abuse disorders. Providers evaluate each patient’s history in determining whether ketamine treatment is appropriate, and dosages indicated for psychiatric treatment are sub-dissociative and less likely to cause unwanted side effects.
Patients No Longer Have to Feel Tired and ‘Numb’ All the Time
For the results of ketamine treatment to last longer, it’s usually recommended that patients receive 2-3 infusions per week for a total of up to 8 infusions. After initial treatment some patients return as needed for ‘ketamine booster infusions. Pacific Mind Health offers IV Ketamine treatment to patients in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Learn more about Pacific Mind Health’s approach to ketamine treatment on our website.
“As practitioners, we are pleased to bring ketamine to our practice because of its quick, positive results for patients,” said Dr. Flatow. “By making ketamine treatment readily available, we hope to give patients with depression and PTSD a new outlook on life.”
