Chances are you’ve heard about ketamine infusions. You may have read that they are being increasingly used in the treatment of mental health. Or you may have heard that they can help people dealing with chronic pain. Both of these things are true, but there’s a lot more to ketamine than that. Learning about the many common uses for ketamine can open a new door into physical and mental health.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is what is called a dissociative anesthetic, which means that it induces a trance-like state that offers pain relief and sedation. Medically, it has traditionally been used as a general anesthetic, but more recently, medical professionals are finding fresh and exciting new uses for ketamine. Ketamine not only brings about a sleep-like state, but it can produce hallucinations as well. These properties allow ketamine to function effectively as a therapeutic tool, treating depression and other mental health issues.
What are Some Common Uses for Ketamine?
General Anesthesia. The traditional medical usage of ketamine is as an anesthetic to provide short-term sedation. Ketamine can be used by itself or with other general anesthetics, and is often employed when the procedure does not involve muscle relaxation. Ketamine does not affect breathing or heart function, and so doctors occasional prefer using it over other anesthetics.
Treatment of Depression and Anxiety. Ketamine is an increasingly popular treatment for a range of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and PTSD. Ketamine is an especially effective option for treatment-resistant patients, such as those who have tried a course of medication without successful results.
Treatment of Chronic Pain. Pain treatment is one of the most common uses for ketamine. Treatment of CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) by ketamine has become increasingly common. Ketamine resets areas of the central nervous system in order to decrease pain sensitivity and provide relief.
Treatment of Seizures. Ketamine is also used in the treatment of seizures, particularly people suffering from status epilepticus. Status epilepticus occurs when a person has seizures of over 5 minutes. Since people with this condition do not always respond to anti-seizure medications, ketamine is frequently used as an alternative treatment.
If you suffer from one of the above conditions, ketamine can be a great option, particularly if you’ve been treatment-resistant in the past. When undergoing ketamine infusions, though, it’s important to do so under the guidance of a trained professional. Risks are minimal, but taking the treatment without medical supervision is not recommended.
Contact Spring Center of Hope Today
At Spring Center of Hope, we’re here to help. We provide ketamine infusions to patients suffering from a variety of mental health disorders. If you or a loved one is suffering or if you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, either by calling 832-559-7310 or by filling out the form below.