Ketamine

Ketamine is a powerful medication often used as an anesthetic, but it’s also helpful in treating depression, pain, and PTSD. At Colorado Recovery Solutions in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dr. Ashley Johnson, and the team provide IV ketamine infusions for patients suffering from chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Ketamine is a safe alternative that works to relieve symptoms quickly. To learn more about IV Ketamine infusions, call the office in Colorado Springs today, or book a consultation online.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a powerful medication most known for its role as a strong anesthetic. It has been used in operating rooms for its anesthetic properties for years.

In more recent years, ketamine has been used as an effective medication in conjunction with an antidepressant in people with treatment-resistant depression. This drug works to restore synapses in your brain, particularly those affected by the neurotransmitter glutamate.

Glutamate is the neurotransmitter that helps with mood and memory function. When you have depression, the glutamate receptors seem to weaken. After a single dose of ketamine, your brain seems to begin to restore these receptors.

How is ketamine given?

Ketamine can be administered in many different ways. The most widely used way to give ketamine is through IV infusion. However, there are other methods of administration as well.

Along with IV infusions, Colorado Recovery Solutions also offers Spravato®, a nasal spray. This medication is an FDA-approved treatment for depression and the only form of ketamine that received this designation.

What conditions does ketamine treat?

Ketamine has been shown to help numerous mental health disorders but is also useful in the treatment of the following conditions:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Chronic pain
• PTSD

The team at Colorado Recovery Solutions offers IV ketamine therapy for all of the above conditions. They assess your condition and symptoms to help you decide if ketamine therapy is right for you.

What should I expect from a ketamine infusion?

To receive an IV ketamine infusion, the team first inserts an IV line into your arm. Your provider then connects the IV to fluid with ketamine in it. The dose of ketamine is carefully determined by Dr. Ashley Johnson to ensure your safety.

Once you are set, you can sit back and relax while the ketamine infuses. You will be monitored by a licensed nurse during the infusion, including your heart rate and blood pressure.

The infusion takes about an hour, and you will continue to be monitored for a little while after your infusion. This helps evaluate for any adverse side effects directly after your treatment.

The effects of ketamine last for about 40 minutes after the treatment. The sedative effects then wear off. However, the effects of ketamine on your brain can last for weeks at a time. 

To find out if ketamine is a treatment option for you, call the office in Colorado Springs today, or book a consultation online.