Ketamine Infusion Therapy

My expectations going in: 

I have suffered with depression and severe anxiety for decades. I’ve been medicated longer than I can  remember and completed countless therapy sessions, lessening the frequency and scale of emotional  events, but not eradicating them. After discussing alternative therapy with my psychiatrist and learning  about Ketamine as a treatment for many mental disorders, I researched it extensively and decided I  would try my luck with the treatment. I went in with an understanding of ways to best receive and  maintain the benefits of the treatment and created a brief list of things I wanted to focus on, my  intentions.  

My Initial Experience:  

Upon first entering the clinic, I was greeted by friendly staff in a beautifully decorated waiting room. I  was immediately taken to the treatment room, a peaceful and inviting space with thoughtful  embellishments. The oversized recliner and soft lighting create a relaxing environment, while the  invitation to play music from the speaker of my phone added to the comfortability. My first treatment  went extremely well. I was surprised to gain almost instant revelations regarding my intentions set at  the beginning of the treatment, as it can take hours or days to take effect in the ways it did during my  first treatment. Leaving the clinic with the loss of grief offered hope in a journey full of ups and downs,  mostly minor wins and painful failures.  

What I experienced physically: 

I had similar experiences each time. Immediately upon the nurse administering the drug I felt suspended  in a place between consciousness and unconsciousness, similar to being administered anesthetics  before a surgery, but remaining mindful throughout. Sensibly, Ketamine is often used as an anesthetic.  During the 45 minutes, time seemed to slow, allowing my brain to dissect the questions I asked myself in  relation to my set intentions. My connection to collective energy was also heightened during  treatments.  

Each session would loosen tension from my TMJ, offering relief from constant clenching for up to 3 days  proceeding.  

My body required a period of rest for about an hour after each treatment once home. Some days I was  compelled to accomplish small things around the house. Others I would choose to stay in bed and dive  deeper mentally by journaling, or by allowing my thoughts to wander while observing. I didn’t  experience discomfort beyond occasional mild nausea during and for up to an hour after treatment.  

What I experience mentally: 

Most sessions gifted me a space to develop ways of thinking and understanding past events that have  hindered progress in one way or another. Some would be in line with my set intentions, but some  unexpected things I assumed settled were given alternative points of view, illuminating them in a new  light and offering peace and true understanding.  

My brain was able to make connections it wasn’t able to before. Extreme inconsistencies between idea  and fact were rightfully corrected, providing relief from fear and heartache. 

After the treatments I was able to make new connections in my brain for weeks following. After my first  treatment I immediately noticed the lack of overwhelming stress during tough situations. My internal  dialogue seems to be working with me rather than against me, in turn allowing me to navigate life with  more confidence. I have also been able to successfully recall and apply tools from therapy without  emotional interference.  

Where I am a couple weeks after: 

As of 7/27, don’t know how long since treatment. I feel like my old self. I laughed with my best friend on  a camping trip, fully letting myself go for the first time since I can remember. The pureness, the true  excitement was priceless.  

Not only did my nurse, Keri, pay special attention and consideration during the treatment process, she  also stamped my soul. 

Ketamine Treatment for depression is now widely available for the treatment of mood disorders following the FDA approval of the drug Esketamine as a depression medication. Esketamine comes as a nasal spray that contains only one of the two molecules that make up ketamine. 

Ketamine Infusion Therapy is Ketamine administered via IV over a period of 40-60 minutes.   Ketamine Infusion Therapy is used to treat a variety of mood disorders such as PTSD, MDD, TRD, OCD, Bipolar disorder, Anxiety, Depression and Addiction. At Quintessence Health and Wellness we offer Ketamine Infusion Treatments in Sandy, UT for all types of mood disorders.   

Patients with TRD (treatment resistant depression) that don’t achieve recovery from common depression medications can benefit from Ketamine Infusion Therapy.   

Common antidepressant drugs target the monoamine systems (serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine). Roughly 30% of patients treated for depression do not respond to these medications and do not achieve the level of relief needed for the treatment to be considered effective. Until the FDA approval for Ketamine treatments for depression there have been no other options for patients that do not respond to antidepressant medications.  

Now Ketamine Treatments are available to treat those patients that have not benefited from common antidepressant treatments.  

Additionally, most of these medications take several weeks or even a few months to achieve the desired effect. For severely depressed patients such as those with MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) that can be too long and this can increase the risk of suicidal ideation.  

Because common antidepressant medications do not offer any options for rapid relief of systems, that has been an unmet need in antidepressant treatments.   

Ketamine assisted therapy is effective within hours of the first treatment and is showing amazing results for long term recovery. 

How is Ketamine assisted therapy different from standard antidepressant drugs? Ketamine acts on a different set of receptors than standard antidepressant medications. Common antidepressant drugs work by stabilizing the monoamine systems in the brain (seratonin, dopamine, norepinephrin). Ketamine as a treatment for depression works in the glutamate systems.   

Glutamate is an amino acid which plays important roles in the central nervous system. Glutamate acts as a moderator in neurotransmitter systems and is part of many physiological processes such as neurodevelopment (nerve cell functions, maintenance and growth) and neurocognitive processes (learning and memory).  

Ketamine works on the NMDA receptors to treat mood disorders and pain. As an NMDA antagonist, Ketamine increases the glutamate levels in the brain opening up and restoring flow to pathways that may be inactive or dormant from chronic depression, anxiety or pain.  One of the receptors that is directly affected is the AMPA receptors which is responsible for the growth of new cells (neurogenesis) and the alignment or learning of neurons (neuroplasticity) and it also has moderating effects on inflammation caused by stressors.