If you are looking for hope and help with depression, chronic pain, or addiction, you may have heard about Ketamine therapy. Ketamine is a treatment for mood and pain disorders that uses low doses of a medication that has been employed as an anesthetic for decades. It can help when other treatments fail. It is safe and effective when done by a qualified provider.
But how do you find a qualified provider? What should you look for? What should you avoid? In this guide, we will answer these questions and more. We will also tell you where to find more information and what to do next if you are interested in Ketamine therapy.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a medication that acts on receptors in the brain called NMDA receptors. These receptors affect pain perception, memory, learning, and mood regulation. Ketamine can block these receptors and reduce pain signals, enhance neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to change and adapt), and improve mood.
Ketamine has been used as an anesthetic for surgical and medical procedures since the 1970s. It is also used off-label as an antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), which is depression that does not respond to standard medications or psychotherapy. Ketamine can provide rapid relief of TRD symptoms, lasting for days to weeks, with high response rates.
Ketamine is also used off-label to treat other mood disorders, such as anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as chronic pain conditions, such as neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Ketamine therapy can help reduce pain sensations, improve function, and enhance quality of life.
Ketamine can be given in different ways, such as intravenous (IV) infusion, intramuscular (IM) injection, oral solution, or nasal spray. The most common way to receive Ketamine therapy is through IV infusion, which delivers a low dose of Ketamine over 40 to 60 minutes in a clinical setting. The nasal spray form of Ketamine, called esKetamine (Spravato), was approved by the FDA in 2019 to treat TRD in combination with another antidepressant. EsKetamine is administered as a squirt in each nostril, followed by a two-hour monitoring period.
How to find a qualified Ketamine Therapy provider?
Ketamine therapy is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. It requires careful assessment, monitoring, and follow-up by a qualified provider who has experience and expertise in using Ketamine for mood and pain disorders. A qualified provider should also have a holistic approach that includes other aspects of care, such as psychotherapy, medication management, lifestyle changes, and support groups.
When looking for a qualified provider, you should consider these factors:
Training and license:
The provider should be certified and licensed in their practice field, such as psychiatry, anesthesiology, neurology, or pain medicine. They should have completed specialized training in Ketamine therapy from reputable organizations, such as the American Society of Ketamine Physicians (ASKP) or the Ketamine Academy. They should also follow the guidelines and best practices established by these organizations.
Environment and procedure:
The provider should have a clean and comfortable place where you can receive Ketamine therapy safely and privately. They should have the right equipment and staff to monitor your vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen level, and electrocardiogram (ECG). They should follow a proven protocol that includes screening for contraindications (such as uncontrolled blood pressure or psychosis), informed consent, pre-treatment preparation, dose adjustment, post-treatment recovery, and adverse event management.
Price and insurance:
The provider should tell you how much the therapy costs and provide a detailed invoice. They should take insurance or help you with financial aid. However, keep in mind that most insurance plans do not cover Ketamine therapy because it is considered off-label for mood and pain disorders. You may have to pay out-of-pocket or use alternative funding sources, such as health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), or crowdfunding platforms.
Communication and trust:
The provider should talk to you clearly and kindly, answer your questions, and listen to your worries. They should care about you and work with your other doctors if needed. They should also provide you with education and resources about Ketamine therapy and its benefits and risks. You should feel comfortable and confident with the provider and trust their judgment and expertise.
Where to find Trusted Ketamine Therapy Providers?
If you want to learn more about Ketamine therapy and how it can help you, you can check these sources:
ASKP:
A community of medical professionals who utilize Ketamine for treating mood and pain disorders. This group maintains a comprehensive directory of its members who provide Ketamine therapy in various states. The directory can help individuals seeking this type of therapy to easily find a qualified and experienced medical professional in their area.
Ketamine Advocacy Network (KAN):
Community of patients who strongly believe in the benefits of Ketamine therapy and support others in finding clinics that offer this therapy in various states. They have compiled a comprehensive list of such clinics across different states, which can prove to be useful for those seeking this therapy.
ClinicalTrials.gov:
A database of studies that test new treatments, including Ketamine, for various conditions. You can search for studies that use Ketamine for mood and pain disorders and see if you qualify to participate.
We provide the best Ketamine Therapy and Wellness!
If you are interested in Ketamine therapy and want to find out if it is right for you, you can contact us for a consultation or visit our website for more details. We are Avesta Ketamine and Wellness, a wellness center that provides therapies for patients suffering from treatment-resistant mood disorders and chronic pain.
We are a team of doctors who are certified and licensed in Ketamine therapy. We have a clean and comfortable facility where we offer IV Ketamine infusions and esKetamine nasal spray. We also provide other services like psychotherapy, medication management, lifestyle coaching, and support groups.
We are here to help you find hope and healing with Ketamine therapy. Call us today at (703) 646-6343 or visit our website to schedule an appointment or learn more about our Ketamine Therapy options.
