Ketamine infusion therapy has been getting more and more attention recently as a means to treat depression and other mental health disorders. The overall consensus is that the benefits of ketamine are impressive, and the data that backs ketamine as a depression treatment is strong. Ketamine has been shown to stop suicidal thoughts within hours, making it one of the leading treatments for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine is effective for 70% of patients who have treatment-resistant depression because it can target areas of the brain that have withered away due to depression and grow new synapses.
While all of the data and research on ketamine is positive, there are still some myths and misconceptions out there because of how ketamine has been portrayed in the past. Here are three of the most common ketamine myths debunked.
Myth 1: Ketamine as a horse tranquilizer
Truth be told, ketamine has been used as an anesthetic in veterinary practices, the same way it has been used on people. The difference is in the doses. Ketamine has been given to larger animals in much higher quantities than would ever be used on humans for mental health treatments. If you’ve heard the mantra, ‘everything in moderation’, that’s what we mean here. The fact is, ketamine is listed on the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines for a reason, that being it is highly effective and produces results given that it is administered in a safe and professional manner. Ketamine is not only used on horses, and the amount used is directly proportional to the size of the animal. So, while it is true that ketamine has been used on animals, it has also been used safely and extensively in humans for over 50 years.
Myth 2: Ketamine is highly addictive
While recreational use of ketamine can be addictive, there is an extremely low likelihood of any sort of dependency if ketamine is safely administered and controlled. Many people may know ketamine by its street name, “special k” because, like any other drug, when used recreationally, it can have addictive properties that become hazardous. However, ketamine infusions are distributed by medical professionals in a controlled environment at low doses that are not physically or psychologically addictive. To further minimize the potential for abuse, it is not permitted as a take-home treatment, therefore a person undergoing ketamine infusion therapy will never ingest enough to make them physically dependent on the drug. That said, ketamine should never be used recreationally to self-medicate as it can become psychologically dependent if not administered by a medical professional. In the manner it is distributed professionally, it is no more addictive than, say, coffee.
Myth 3: Ketamine is bad for you
Again, ketamine is not bad for you in moderation. Because it is a sedative with possibly psychotropic effects it can have disastrous results when abused. The myth about ketamine infusion therapy comes from the dangers of abusing ketamine recreationally, and not using ketamine as a means to treat depression. The major point is that while dangerous in large quantities, ketamine is not life-threatening when distributed in small doses. Ketamine can have life-changing results for people with treatment-resistant depression, but it is not a drug to mess around with outside of a professional ketamine clinic.
The research so far supports the sentiment that ketamine can help relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain conditions because it acts in the brain, helping to rebuild neural connections. If you or a loved one needs help, contact VIP Ketamine for a free consultation today. Find out if you are a candidate for ketamine infusions and take the first step towards reclaiming your life. Request a free consultation from our office to see if ketamine infusion is right for you.