What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine has been used as an anesthetic drug since the 1960's, where it was used on the battlefields of Vietnam. However, in recent years research has discovered ketamine has another use. The drug can be used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS), Post-traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) and other possible mood disorders. At lower doses than used in anesthesia, ketamine has shown positive results in treatment of severe depression, when other treatments and anti-depressants have failed. It can also reduce pain and help with dependency on painkillers which can be addictive. Initial ketamine treatments are given through a series of intravenous (IV) infusions over 40 minutes to 1 hour and continuing over a course of two weeks easing symptoms of depression and/or pain in just a few hours. Maintenance doses will be discussed after evaluation of initial treatment period.
Patient Specific Treatment
DOSE ketamine treatments are very patient specific treatments. These treatments involve multiple infusions AND follow up visits, not only with DOSE Ketamine Clinic, but also your personal physician. Beginning with the initial treatment, regularly scheduled maintenance ketamine doses may be scheduled as necessary.
The treatment begins with completing all the necessary paperwork; insurance and billing information, personal history information, etc. Then you will be taken to a small treatment room where you will be connected to a monitor and your blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, and oxygen level (vital signs) will be monitored. An IntraVenous Line (IVL) will be started in your arm. During the course of your treatment, your vital signs will be continuously monitored. Ketamine and IVL fluids will be infused into your vein over a 40 minute to 1 hour infusion. After the infusion is complete, you will be monitored for a brief 15 – 30 minute period and then released into the care of a friend or family member. You cannot drive after the treatment for the remainder of the day. In addition, it is important to note that you should not make important decisions or operate any dangerous machinery for the rest of the day.