Ketamine Treatments

How Does Ketamine Work?
Most traditional antidepressants focus on the neurotransmitters Serotonin and Norepinephrine. On the other hand, Ketamine focuses on the neurotransmitter Glutamate, which plays a key role in neural activation and repair. Ketamine has also been found to be a strong anti-inflammatory, which may largely be responsible for its ability to improve chronic pain.

Is Ketamine Treatment Safe?
Yes! Ketamine has been an FDA approved drug for about 50-years as an anesthetic and analgesic medication and is routinely used in operating rooms and emergency departments every day. This means that if you’ve ever had any kind of surgical procedure, ever had a bone set, or stitches in the ER, you’ve probably already been treated with ketamine!

When used properly, Ketamine is a very safe medication. In small doses, Ketamine rapidly alleviates symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and some chronic pain in about 70% of patients. In some instances, it can provide chronic pain relief for up to six months.

Although Ketamine can be highly effective for the treatment of depression and chronic pain, it has not yet been approved by the FDA for these uses. However, it is legal and growing in popularity every day. A very similar drug, Esketamine, in the form of a nasal spray, has recently been approved for these purposes. When administered by a qualified clinician, Ketamine is highly effective and rapid-acting.

Will Ketamine Treatment Work for Depression?
Ketamine is an extremely effective antidepressant for about 70% of patients, possibly as much as 90%. Because traditional antidepressants (SSRI’s, SNRI’s, etc.) are able to alleviate symptoms in only about 30-40% of patients, this makes Ketamine therapy a truly remarkable option for many people. Remember that every patient experiences the effects of Ketamine differently. Some patients may feel an immediate improvement of their symptoms, while others experience a slow and steady improvement.

Could I Become Addicted to Ketamine?
Contrary to popular belief, Ketamine is not a physically addicting substance. When abused at higher doses in a recreational setting, it can become psychologically addicting. When administered for depression treatment or chronic pain management, it is used in much smaller doses than what would be needed to achieve a recreational “high.” The chances that a patient would become psychologically addicted to ketamine are very slim. However, Promise Medical takes the risk of addiction seriously. We screen all patients prior to their first treatment to assess their potential for addiction and/or abuse.

How Do I Get Started? What Should I Expect During My First Treatment?
The first step is to determine if you are a candidate for Ketamine therapy. If you are not already a patient of Promise Medical, this, along with a basic physical, medical history, and depression/anxiety/pain evaluation is usually done during a consultation exam. If there are no contraindications, we will help you schedule an appointment for your first Ketamine treatment.

A Ketamine treatment consists of an intramuscular injection, usually in the hip or backside. Many Ketamine clinics start an IV and infuse it into a vein over 20-30 minutes, but we typically administer it in a muscle, which is equally as effective. You can then relax as the Ketamine takes effect. Because people often feel very “goofy”, “dizzy”, or even “on another planet” for about 20 minutes, you can lie down, listen to music, or watch a movie on your phone.

Ketamine wears off in about 20 to 30 minutes and then most patients start to experience a drastic improvement in mood as well as a decrease in anxiety and pain symptoms. At this time, if you would like, you may receive a second injection at no extra charge. This is 1 treatment. Your vital signs will be monitored throughout the procedure.

On the day of your first treatment, please follow these instructions:

• Don’t eat anything for 6-hours prior to your treatment.
• Please arrange for a ride home. You should not drive, operate heavy equipment, or make important decisions for the rest of the day.
• You must refrain from alcohol or other sedating substances for 6 hours prior to, and 6 hours after treatment.
• Most regular medications should be continued. Talk to the provider before to go over medications and medical history.

After your Ketamine treatment, your vital signs will be monitored for another 30-minutes before releasing you into the care of a friend or family member. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE OR OPERATE MACHINERY FOR 24-HOURS POST TREATMENT!

Can I Continue Using My Other Medications?
Most of your medication should be continued. Never discontinue the use of any medication without talking to your provider first. During your initial consultation, we will review your medication list and determine any contraindications.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?
Ketamine starts to work very rapidly so you will know within 24 hours if your treatment has worked. However, most people plan on 4 to 6 treatments over the course of 4 to 6 weeks to ensure that the effect is long lasting. Injections are performed on an as-needed basis depending on the symptoms of the individual patient.

Because research is ongoing, Ketamine is not recommended long term without a break. At Promise Medical, we adhere to a rule of thumb of no more than 2 treatments per week. After six weeks, our patients are required to take a “drug holiday” of 4 weeks to allow their brain to adjust and allow the patient to determine his or her new baseline status.

Is Ketamine a Recreational Drug?
Unfortunately, lots of very important medications are abused for recreational purposes, including Ketamine. Because it can also be used on animals undergoing surgery, it has been called a “horse tranquilizer.” On the street, it is known as “Special K.” When used recreationally, Ketamine is ingested in much higher doses than would ever be administered at a Ketamine clinic. Remember that Ketamine is administered safely every day in operating rooms and emergency rooms all over the world in higher doses than what you receive to treat depression.

How Much Does a Ketamine Treatment Cost?
While most Ketamine Clinics in Utah are charging anywhere from $400 to $500 per treatment, we are offering an introductory price of $275 for each treatment. This consists of 1 injection, and a second injection 20-30 minutes later at no extra charge if the patient tolerated the first injection well and desires another to increase its effect. A patient may receive a $25 discount for every referral brought in.