Are you wondering if there are ways to cure depression? In my 20 years as a practitioner and professor in anesthesia, pain management, and alternative medicine, the proverbial question, “is it possible to get rid of depression” comes up. If you are suffering from depression, whether it is major or minor, long-term or short-term, you have most certainly wondered if it is possible to cure depression. The answer is not a simple one but in short, it is possible to manage depression and even go into full remission from depression. A state of full remission is essentially defined as “a period of improvement of sufficient magnitude such that the individual is virtually asymptomatic,” which is entirely possible.
You can think of it like this. If you gain weight, then lose it, you must “manage” your weight going forward. With proper management, you can enjoy sustained weight or weight loss remission. In terms of illness, you can consider that it is possible to recover and go into remission after battling cancer. However, the chance of relapse exists, but often with proper management and sustained effort, long-term remission can be a reality.
Managing Depression
When it comes to managing major depression, the most successful interventions typically entail a combination of prescription medication and therapy. Research shows that combined treatment is more successful than standalone treatments. The problem is that sometimes the benefits can be short-term, and overtime the patient may find that their depression relapses. Additionally, in some cases, patients discover they are suffering from treatment-resistant depression. When this happens, the patient can lose all hope.
In all truthfulness, this is a major reason why I opened my Ketamine Clinic, because I wanted to bridge this gap and provide hope to patients who are suffering from treatment resistant depression (and PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain). Whatever stigma you may have about Ketamine, it is effective in the treatment of depression. It is non-addictive and safe when administered by a licensed physician in a controlled environment. In a previous article I wrote more extensively on the safety of Ketamine. In short, According to the World Health Organization, “Ketamine [is] one of the most essential medications due to its therapeutic effects and wide margin of safety.” Developed in the 1960s and approved for use in the United States in 1970, Ketamine works by inducing both hypnotic (sleep-inducing) and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. Ketamine is deemed a complete anesthetic with minimal effects on cardiovascular function, respiratory drive, and airway reflexes. It is used extensively for pediatric and adult treatment in surgery, emergency departments, trauma medicine, and war zones.”
For many, Ketamine IV Infusion treatments restore hope, with about 80% of treatment resistant depression patients experiencing benefits from Ketamine infusions. Ketamine shows such promise that the FDA has approved a sister drug called Esketamine for treatment of depression. Esketamine is a nasal spray option that must also be administered by a licensed provider, such as Avesta. Avesta Ketamine and Wellness offers esketamine or Spravato treatments in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
When a patient is suffering from treatment resistant depression, it is recommended that the patient’s current treatment regimen continue. The goal is to add ketamine iv infusions to the patient’s treatment protocol, which will give patients the best chance at finding relief–and even remission from depression (with proper management and oversight).
In general, treatment induction includes 6 one 45-60 minute sessions spread over a 2-3 week period. Research has shown this regimen to be the most effective induction method. Patients typically feel effects within the first 4 treatments, and are recommended to continue their regular care with a mental health practitioner, as well as their current drug regimen. Additionally, ketamine booster infusions are generally needed periodically following the induction treatment to maintain relief.
To find out if ketamine iv infusions are right for the treatment of your depression, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with us today.
If you would like to learn more about Avesta Ketamine and Wellness, please review our About Us page our Wellness Infusions page.